EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Playing Fields

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many applications were (a) made, (b) granted and (c) refused, and in how many cases in which requirements or directions were made under Schedule 22(3) that proceeds or land should be paid or transferred to the local authority under section 77 or Schedule 22 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 for (i) the disposal or (ii) the change of use of land used as playing fields by schools in each year since 1 October 1998.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 26 June 2001
	The information requested is shown in the table. This relates to applications to dispose of areas equal to, or larger than, a sports pitch. The table also shows the number of applications that did not result in the loss of any areas larger than a sports pitch. In the case of all approved applications, any proceeds were used to provide new or improved sports or education facilities at maintained schools.
	
		Applications under section 77 and Schedule 22 of the school standards and framework Act 1998 to dispose, or change the use, of school playing fields larger than a sports pitch(1)
		
			  1998(2) 1999 2000 2001(3) Total 
		
		
			 Applications received 35 68 49 17 169 
			 Applications approved(4)(5) 9 54 43 23 129 
			 Approved applications where there is no permanent loss of playing field larger than a sports pitch(6) 3 20 12 8 43 
			 Applications rejected 0 2 0 0 2 
			 Applications withdrawn 3 6 1 0 10 
			 Schedule 22(1)(3) direction made(7) 1 0 3 0 4 
		
	
	(1) 'Sports pitch' means an area of open grassed land equal to, or larger than, the Football Association's recommended area for games played by under-10s of 2,000 sq m, and which has a configuration making it suitable for use as a sports pitch
	(2) The School Standards and Framework Act came into force on 1 October 1998. Figures for 1998, therefore, cover applications received and applications determined between 1 October to 31 December 1998
	(3) This covers the period from 1 January to 22 June 2001
	(4) Applications may not have been approved in the same year that they were made because of the time needed to assess them. There are 28 applications not yet determined
	(5) In all approved cases, any proceeds were directed back into providing better sports or educational provision
	(6) Not all approvals result in the loss of playing fields. Some proposals involve the granting of a lease in which the playing field remains in place, or they may involve the transfer of ownership but no change of use
	(7) No directions made under Schedule 22(1)(3) have transferred land back to a local authority

Modern Languages

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students obtained GCSE and A-level examinations in (a) Urdu, (b) Bengali, (c) Gujerati, (d) Hindi, (e) Mandarin, (f) Cantonese and (g) modern languages in each of the last five years.

Ivan Lewis: The number of students of all ages who obtained GCSE and GCE A-level passes in the various languages over the last five years are shown in the table. Figures for Mandarin and Cantonese are not available, data for Chinese as a whole have been provided instead.
	
		
			  1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 
		
		
			 GCSE  
			 (a) Urdu 5,658 6,660 6,370 6,497 6,677 
			 (b) Bengali 2,116 2,220 2,146 2,152 2,041 
			 (c) Gujerati 1,313 1,309 1,026 1,189 1,200 
			 (d) Hindi — — — — — 
			 (e)(f) Chinese 1,956 2,048 1,937 1,917 2,028 
			 (g) All modern languages 450,244 444,639 460,186 472,010 476,050 
			   
			 GCE A-Level  
			 (a) Urdu 833 837 591 746 725 
			 (b) Bengali 99 98 108 37 53 
			 (c) Gujerati — — — — — 
			 (d) Hindi 31 19 13 8 — 
			 (e)(f) Chinese 972 887 1,074 1,165 1,225 
			 (g) All modern languages 32,937 32,340 31,298 30,224 27,455

Departmental Response Times

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to increase the speed with which her Department communicates with hon. Members.

Ivan Lewis: The Department intends at all times to inform constituency MPs on announcements and to ensure letters are posted on the letter board the day before an announcement is made.
	MPs were notified of the new Beacon Schools on 20 June, in advance of the announcement the following day. We will continue to provide early notice to MPs of announcements which affect their constituencies.

LEA Councillors (Disqualifications)

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if the disqualification for serving as a councillor on the local education authority applies equally to teaching staff of (a) foundation schools, (b) voluntary aided schools and (c) community schools.

Stephen Timms: Yes. Teachers are disqualified from being councillors for their school's maintaining local authority, regardless of whom the contract of employment is with.

Teacher Training

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what information her Department collates on the number of people leaving teacher training who enter teaching; and if she will publish those figures.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 2 July 2001
	My Department collects the number of teachers awarded Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) each year. Data are then obtained from employers' returns to the Teachers' Pensions Scheme (TPS) to show which of these newly qualified teachers have entered teaching by the following 31 March in the maintained sector in England and Wales, the parts of the independent sector that are members of the TPS, full-time further education lecturers in England and Wales, and lecturers in higher education who are members of the TPS. The service of teachers is subsequently monitored at 31 March every year.
	There were 24,740 teachers in England who obtained QTS in 1998, having followed a BEd or PGCE course. 18,140 (73 per cent.) entered full or part-time teaching in England by 31 March 1999 and a further 150 (0.6 per cent.) were teaching in Wales, as follows:
	
		
			  Number Percentage 
		
		
			 QTS following BEd or PGCE awarded in 1998 24,740 — 
			 Not in service by 31 March 1999 6,450 26 
			
			 In service in England by 31 March 1999   
			 Maintained schools 17,110 69 
			 Independent schools 800 3 
			 Other(8) 230 1 
			 Total in service by 31 March 1999 18,140 73 
			 In service in Wales 150 0.6 
			 Total in service in England or Wales 18,290 74 
		
	
	(8) Includes further and higher education
	Other teachers with QTS following a BEd or PGCE, not recorded above, may have had service in Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or parts of the independent or HE sectors that are not members of the TPS.

AS Levels

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what procedures are in place to ensure consistency of marking for AS levels (a) within and (b) between examination boards.

Stephen Timms: The procedures to ensure the consistency of marking of AS levels within awarding bodies are contained in the GCSE and GCE A/AS Code of Practice. A copy of this document, published by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) and its counterparts in Wales and Northern Ireland, has been placed in the House of Commons Library. The QCA monitors compliance with this Code of Practice. It also looks at consistency between awarding bodies on a sample basis each year. In addition, the QCA has established an international panel of experts to review the QCA's arrangements for maintaining A level standards against best practice.

AS Levels

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils have entered for the AS level examination this year.

Stephen Timms: The total number of students who have entered to sit the AS level examination in England and Wales will not be available until the autumn. However, there have been over 800,000 subject entries for AS examinations this summer. Many students will have entered for more than one subject.

Vocational GCSE Courses

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimates her Department has made of the number of teachers required for the new vocational GCSE courses.

Ivan Lewis: This autumn's annual review of the teacher training targets will take account of any likely additional demand for teachers as a result of the new vocational GCSE courses.

Vocational GCSE Courses

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what qualifications will be required for teachers of each of the new vocational GCSE courses.

Stephen Timms: Teachers delivering vocational GCSEs in maintained secondary schools will be required to have Qualified Teacher Status. While there will be no further statutory requirements concerning qualifications, headteachers will be expected to match teachers' backgrounds and experiences as closely as possible to the subjects on offer. A comprehensive training and support programme will be available to ensure teachers are well prepared for, and supported during, the delivery of courses.

Secondary School Admissions

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on admissions procedures to secondary schools.

Stephen Timms: We introduced a new admissions framework for all schools in the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. Its aim was to promote parental choice and make the admissions system fairer and easier for parents. A new statutory requirement was imposed on admission authorities requiring them to consult each other annually, before determining their admission arrangements. Where local agreement cannot be reached, admission authorities can object to an independent Schools Adjudicator or, where appropriate, to the Secretary of State.
	School admission arrangements are decided locally and admission authorities are free to choose what arrangements to use, although they must be clear, fair and objective and operated in a reasonable manner in line with guidance contained in the Code of Practice on School Admissions.
	Parents have the right to appeal to an independent appeal panel if refused a place at their preferred school.

Pupil Referral Units

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills under what criteria local authorities may set up pupil referral units.

Stephen Timms: Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) can be established by local education authorities under section 19(2) of the Education Act 1996 to educate young people who are unable to attend school because of illness, exclusion or otherwise. Education authorities must tell the Secretary of State whenever they set up or close a PRU, although there are no formal opening or closing procedures. However, before opening or closing a PRU there should be reasonable consultation locally, including with other PRUs in an area. The Education (School Premises) Regulations 1996 apply to PRUs with certain modifications. PRUs do not have to provide: a head teacher's room; playing fields; or staff accommodation for teachers to use for both work and social purposes. Education authorities may provide such accommodation, particularly for PRUs that offer full-time education on the premises. Education authorities must also ensure that PRU accommodation meets health, safety and fire regulations, and that it is suitable for education.

Primary Schools

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the (a) optimum number and (b) minimum number of pupils at which a primary school can provide a balanced education; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: There are good schools of all sizes. Delivery of a balanced curriculum depends on the organisation of the school and the skills and professionalism of the staff. We are supporting high standards in schools by effective inspection and targeted increased resources.
	Where schools have declining rolls and a large number of empty places, their future should be reviewed, particularly in cases where suitable alternative provision is easily accessible.

Primary Schools

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action she plans to take to reduce primary school class sizes for those aged eight years and over.

Stephen Timms: Following increases in the amount of education funding we have made available to schools and local education authorities since 1997, the average class size for primary pupils aged eight and over has fallen for the second consecutive year; it is now 26.7. We intend to continue to improve funding to schools and by 2003–04 the average funding per pupil will have risen by £750 in real terms since 1997–98; schools may use this to reduce class sizes for junior pupils if they see that as a priority. In addition, we have announced that £73 million is being made available this year specifically to ensure that infants transferring to junior class continue to benefit from small classes.

Teachers' Employment Rights

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the employment rights of teachers facing (a) redundancy and (b) redeployment.

Stephen Timms: Although rare, teachers can face redundancy and redeployment when the need for their work at a particular school ceases or diminishes. Nevertheless, they enjoy the same general employment rights under the law as employees in other occupations.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Net Metering

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will undertake a review of current arrangements affecting net metering for renewable energy.

Brian Wilson: The issue of how best to value the export of energy to local electricity networks, including the specific issue of net metering, was examined by the Embedded Generation Working Group, who issued their final report recently. The Working Group concluded that further work on this issue was required and made a number of recommendations on how this might be progressed. We shall be making an announcement shortly on how the recommendations of the Embedded Generation Working Group will be taken forward.
	In May, the then Energy Minister wrote to electricity suppliers and distribution network operators asking them to consider improving net metering terms for small scale domestic renewable energy generators, including electricity from photovoltaics. A number of responses have been received and the Department will be considering what further action can be taken in the light of the conclusions that emerge.

Information and Consultation Directive

David Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what impact her Department expects the Information and Consultation Directive to have on competitiveness; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: The directive allows for flexible information and consultation procedures which can be adapted to meet the needs of individual employers. As such it will help foster partnership at work, thereby improving competitiveness.

UK Productivity

David Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of her Department's measures over the last Parliament in respect of the targets for raising UK productivity.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 25 June 2001
	During the last Parliament the Government set out their comprehensive strategy for meeting the productivity challenge in "Productivity in the UK: The Evidence and the Government's Approach", which was published alongside the November 2000 pre-Budget Report. The Government have also published major White Papers on enterprise, skills development and on science and innovation policy.
	The Government's policy is based on the twin principles of delivering macroeconomic stability, to allow firms and individuals to invest for the future, and implementing microeconomic reforms to remove the barriers which prevent markets from functioning efficiently.
	During the last Parliament the Government introduced a number of measures aimed at raising UK productivity consistent with the twin policy approach; for example we:
	encouraged enterprise and innovation, including through the tax system, with reductions in corporation tax and capital gains tax, the introduction of R&D tax credits for small firms and 100 per cent. first year capital allowances for SMEs investing in ICT equipment;
	created the Regional Development Agencies to drive forward growth in every region;
	strengthened the competition regime via the Competition Act 1980;
	increased real investment in the UK science base to reverse years of decline and encouraged business innovation through significant knowledge transfer funding including for the Higher Education Innovation and University Challenge Funds and Faraday Partnerships;
	made substantial investments in education and training;
	created the Small Business Service and Manufacturing Advisory Service to improve the services and environment for small firms;
	launched the joint CBI/TUC productivity campaign;
	instituted a new regulatory structure to promote competitiveness in the energy supply industry.
	The Government are clear that having set a sound framework for investment and growth, further radical reform is needed to tackle the challenge of enterprise and productivity. To this end, the Government recently published "Productivity in the UK: Enterprise and the Productivity Challenge" which sets out measures to remove obstacles to innovation and competition and to create an enterprise culture, open to all. We are introducing measures to reform the competition regime, to encourage small businesses to start, innovate and grow, and to raise the quantity and quality of investment in the public and private sectors.

Icelandic Trawlermen

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications have been received under the compensation scheme for former Icelandic trawlermen; how many duplicate applications there were; how many applications have been paid to date; and how many have been rejected.

Nigel Griffiths: The figures as at 22 June 2001 are as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
		
		
			 Total applications received 11,000 
			 Duplicates 2,173 
			 Passed for payment 2,436 
			 Rejected 1,323

Icelandic Trawlermen

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications for compensation made to the Icelandic trawlermen's scheme have been referred to her for decision on the entitlement of those who continued in fishing; and when she hopes to reach a conclusion on those cases.

Nigel Griffiths: Some 905 claims from men who continued fishing on former Icelandic water trawlers after 1979 have been identified. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has received representations that these claims should be brought within the scope of the scheme. She is currently considering this issue.

Export Licences (Israel)

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many export licences were issued, broken down by category, for military and security equipment to Israel (a) between 29 September and 31 December 2000 and (b) between 1 January and 31 May.

Nigel Griffiths: The export of military equipment is controlled under entries in Part III of Schedule I of the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994 as amended (commonly known as the Military List).
	Between 29 September and 31 December 2000, seven Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) and no Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs) were issued covering the export to Israel of goods on the Military List. Between 1 January and 31 May 2001, 84 SIELs and no OIELs were issued covering the export of goods on the Military List to Israel.
	Individual licences may cover a range of goods with various ratings. Where this is so, the licence is included in the tables in the total for all of the relevant ratings.
	This information could not be broken down in the manner requested as the equipment covered by most entries in the Military List could be used for military or security purposes.
	
		Individual licences issued between 29 September and 31 December 2000 covering the export to Israel of goods on the military list
		
			  Rating Number of SIELs issued covering goods with this rating 
		
		
			 ML2 1 
			 ML4 1 
			 ML5 3 
			 ML10 1 
			 ML16 1 
			 ML18 1 
		
	
	
		Individual licences issued between 1 January and 31 May 2001 covering the export to Israel of goods on the military list
		
			  Rating Number of SIELs issued covering goods with this rating 
		
		
			 ML3 1 
			 ML4 11 
			 ML5 27 
			 ML9 3 
			 ML10 21 
			 ML11 6 
			 ML13 1 
			 ML15 3 
			 ML16 3 
			 ML18 2 
			 ML21 2 
			 PL5017 2 
			 PL5031 2 
			 End-use 2 
		
	
	This information does not cover any Media OIELs that may have been issued during this period. Media OIELs authorise the export to all destinations of protective clothing, mainly for the protection of aid agency workers and journalists, when working in areas of conflict.
	In addition, Israel is a permitted destination on certain Open General Export Licences covering the export of goods on the Military List; copies of all Open General Export Licences are placed in the Library of the House.

Ilisu Dam

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she has received a copy of the Environmental Impact Assessment report for the Ilisu project in Turkey; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: We have now received the Environmental Impact Assessment Report for the Ilisu project. A copy of the Report is being placed in the Library of both Houses.
	I am very well aware of the great public interest which exists in this project, and the associated application for export credit cover from ECGD. ECGD are therefore arranging for a copy of the Executive Summary of the EIAR to be placed on their website (www.ecgd.gov.uk). Copies of the CD-ROM of the full report can be obtained by writing to Ilisu Project, ECGD, PO Box 2200, 2 Harbour Exchange Square, London E14 9GS enclosing a cheque for £5. ECGD will also be providing, free of charge, a copy of the Executive Summary.
	Any comments on the Ilisu Dam project in the light of this report received by ECGD by 7 September 2001 will be taken into account by Ministers in their decision on whether or not to grant ECGD support for the project. Comments may be made in writing to the above address, or by e-mail to ilisueiar@ecgd.gov.uk.
	A decision about export credit support requires very careful consideration. I shall therefore be seeking expert advice on the EIAR and consulting my ministerial colleagues, before taking a decision. Until this process is complete, we will not be commenting on the report.

Miners' Pension Rights

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she intends to announce her decision in respect of the entitlement of sacked miners to pension rights.

Brian Wilson: I am well aware of the level of interest in this long running issue. I hope to be in a position to announce my decision before the summer recess.

South West Regional Development Agency

Robert Walter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment has been made of the impact of the South West Regional Development Agency on the economy of north Dorset.

Alan Johnson: The South West Regional Development Agency (SW RDA) has been in existence for two years and has been working with inherited programmes supporting economic, social and community regeneration within the South West Region.
	The SW RDA has been encouraging and promoting the economy of the area and has taken the approach of working in partnership with a substantial range of partners within the sub-region. In north Dorset these have included: Dorset County Council, north Dorset District Council, Town/Parish Councils, Business Link Dorset (now BL Wessex) and Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole Training and Enterprise Council (now Learning and Skills Council), housing associations, private sector businesses/ developers and many more. The outcome of successful partnership working has been to introduce an integrated economic/social/community development process. Details of these arrangements and of specific projects supported by the RDA are available in the Library of the House.

Regional Development Agencies

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the (a) budgets and (b) administrative costs were for each of the regional development agencies in England for each financial year since their establishment; and what their planned budgets and administrative costs are for the next two years.

Alan Johnson: The table shows the Regional Development Agencies' (a) net budget for expenditure on programmes and (b) their administration budget for the financial years 1999–2000 to 2001–02.
	The RDAs' net budgets collectively are planned to be £1,430 million for 2002–03 and £1,580 million for 2003–04. These have yet to be divided up between the RDAs, or between programme and administration.
	
		
			   1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02(10) 
			   Programme budgets(9) Administration Programme budgets(9) Administration Programme budgets(9) Administration 
		
		
			 One North East 99,385 9,585 111,749 10,513 139,832 10,103 
			 North West 175,361 11,837 179,379 13,876 243,153 14,044 
			 Yorkshire Forward 132,656 7,795 158,624 8,284 202,614 9,989 
			 East Midlands 47,844 6,941 69,781 7,377 74,343 7,488 
			 Advantage West Midlands 97,624 7,421 115,397 8,352 140,656 8,793 
			 East of England 26,627 4,570 38,205 4,849 51,411 5,836 
			 South East 70,498 5,196 81,658 6,343 89,708 6,643 
			 South West 26,151 7,255 60,071 8,380 59,490 9,099 
			 London — — 264,347 6,009 267,672 9,470 
		
	
	(9) The programme figures are net of receipts that the RDAs recycle.
	(10) Approved to date

Hawk Jet

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with the Indian Government concerning the BAE Systems bid to supply Hawk jets; and what is the value of the BAE bid.

Lewis Moonie: I have been asked to reply.
	The Ministry of Defence and the Department of Trade and Industry have been supportive of BAE Systems' bid to supply Hawk to India. Visits have been made by Government Ministers from both MOD and DTI during the past 18 months. These visits have provided valuable opportunities to assure the Indian Government of HMG's support for a greater co-operation between UK and Indian defence companies, including on the BAE Systems Hawk proposal.
	The value of the bid is a matter between BAE Systems and the Indian Government.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

Early-day Motions

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the President of the Council what the cost was of printing and publication of EDMs in the last 12 months (a) in total, (b) per week and (c) per day.

Archy Kirkwood: I have been asked to reply. 
	House of Commons printing and publishing charges are volume related and calculated in arrears by financial year. Final figures for EDM costs are therefore available only for FY 2000–01 and amount to approximately £443,000. This figure does not include electronic publication costs associated with EDMs, which are not separately identifiable from overall electronic publishing costs.
	There were 35 sitting or part-sitting weeks; and 159 sitting days in FY 2000–01, from which can be derived average costs for EDM printing and publishing of approximately £12,660 per sitting week and £2,786 per sitting day.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

First Junior Chancery Treasury Counsel

Harry Barnes: To ask the Solicitor-General if she will list the occasions on which First Junior Chancery Treasury Counsel were employed by the Department of Trade and Industry between 5 April 1999 and 4 April 2000, indicating the commencing dates, durations and purposes.

Patricia Hewitt: I have been asked to reply
	The First Treasury Junior (Chancery) is appointed to work exclusively on Government business. Between 5 April 1999 and 4 April 2000 he worked on 36 Department of Trade and Industry matters. Like others, the Government seek and receive their legal advice in confidence. All such advice is covered by legal professional privilege and is therefore exempt from disclosure. In the circumstances it is inappropriate to give the further particulars requested.

PRIME MINISTER

Disability Issues

Tim Boswell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will define departmental and ministerial responsibilities for disability issues.

Tony Blair: Maria Eagle, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, has responsibility for civil rights for disabled people, including the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and the Disability Rights Commission, for disability benefits, and for the promotion and co-ordination of disability issues across Government. Practice on the allocation of responsibility for disability matters in other appropriate Departments varies.

Work Permit Applications

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Prime Minister what representations he made, and by which officials on his behalf, to (a) the Department for Education and Skills and (b) the Department for Culture, Media and Sport regarding the applications for work permits by Mr. Hector Sam and Mr. Carlos Edwards.

Tony Blair: As far as I am aware, no representations have been made on my behalf in respect of these matters.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Prime Minister what plans the Government have for a public inquiry into the handling of the foot and mouth crisis.

Peter Luff: To ask the Prime Minister if he will establish an independent public inquiry into all aspects of the Government's handling of foot and mouth disease.

Tony Blair: There will be an inquiry to ascertain the lessons that can be learned from the foot and mouth outbreak. Its nature will be a matter for decision later: the immediate priority remains the eradication of the disease.

Climate Change

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Eccles (Ian Stewart) of 21 June 2001, Official Report, column 1W, if he will provide details of the new high-level group on climate change.

Tony Blair: The EU-US summit of 14 June agreed to a proposal by the EU Presidency to establish a high-level group on climate change. I understand that a mandate for the group has not been finalised, but that it is envisaged that it will act as a channel for the EU and US to exchange information and maintain contact on important climate change issues. It is envisaged that the EU would be represented by the Troika.

Performance and Innovation Unit

Derek Twigg: To ask the Prime Minister what additional projects are planned for the Performance and Innovation Unit; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: I have asked the Performance and Innovation Unit to undertake a further project to review the legal and regulatory framework for charities and the wider voluntary and community sector and bring forward proposals for reform.
	The Government are committed to working in partnership with charities and the voluntary sector to strengthen their contribution to the health and dynamism of the society and the economy. The project will consider how the regulatory and legal framework could better enable existing organisations to thrive and grow; encourage the development of new types of organisations where needed; and ensure public confidence.
	The PIU will report in the winter. The sponsor Minister will be Baroness Morgan.

EU Institutions

David Laws: To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to bring forward proposals to define and limit the powers of European Union institutions; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: The declaration on the future of the Union (Declaration 23) attached to the treaty of Nice lists:
	"the precise delimitation of powers between the European Union and member states reflecting the principle of subsidiarity"
	as one of the issues to be addressed by the inter- governmental conference in 2004.
	The declaration also states that these discussions should be preceded by a deep and wide debate with all those representing public opinion. That debate has already begun. As I said in my speech in Warsaw in October 2000, the future shape of the institutions should concentrate on delivering real benefits to people in the areas that matter most to them. They should also ensure that the EU becomes more transparent, accountable and relevant.

Voting Systems

David Laws: To ask the Prime Minister by what date he will carry out a review of the new voting systems for elections to (a) the Scottish Parliament, (b) the National Assembly of Wales, (c) the European Parliament and (d) the London Assembly; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: We said we will keep the situation under review and we will do so. No decision has yet been made on the precise timing of any formal review process.

Government Annual Reports

David Winnick: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to agree to requests for him to give evidence before a Select Committee on the Government annual reports; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: By long-standing convention, Prime Ministers have not given evidence to Select Committees. I regularly answer questions from members at Prime Minister's questions.

Cabinet Committees

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister if former members of Cabinet Committees are required to submit political diaries and memoirs for clearance by the Cabinet Office prior to publication.

Tony Blair: The ministerial code states that former Ministers are required to submit their manuscript to the Secretary of the Cabinet and to conform to the principles set out in the Radcliffe report of 1976 (Cmnd 6386). These principles are drawn to the attention of Ministers when they are appointed and a note of them is included in the Directory of the Civil Service Guidance. Copies of the Directory are in the Libraries of the House and the text is available on-line at http://www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/guidance.

Cabinet Committees

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister what restrictions govern the publication of minutes of meetings of the Joint Cabinet Committee held in the last Parliament.

Tony Blair: Details of the proceedings of all Cabinet Committees, including the Joint Cabinet Committee, are exempt from disclosure for 30 years under the internal discussion and advice exemption of the code of practice on access to government information.

Appointments Commission

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his reply of 25 June 2001, Official Report, column 17W, on the Appointments Commission 
	(1)  what categories of individuals other than those ennobled in order to enter the Government as Ministers will be recommended by him for a peerage without reference to the House of Lords Appointments Commission;
	(2)  if he will place in the Library correspondence with the House of Lords Appointments Commission concerning his practice of recommending some peerages without reference to the Commission.

Tony Blair: With the exception of peerages created to enable individuals to serve as Ministers, all recommendations that I make to the Queen are referred to the House of Lords Appointments Commission for scrutiny. The final decision on whether to recommend those names, however, rests with me, unlike those recommendations proposed by the Commission itself.

Gothenburg Council

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister what communications he has had with his Swedish counterpart in respect of the shooting with live ammunition of demonstrators at the European Summit in Gothenburg.

Tony Blair: Since I left Gothenburg, I have had no communication with the Swedish Prime Minister, Goran Persson, about the policing of the violent rioting at the recent European Council meeting there. This is a matter for the Swedish authorities. I understand that the Swedish Government have set up a commission to investigate all of the events surrounding the riots.

Public Service Agreements

David Laws: To ask the Prime Minister which Department is responsible for overall monitoring of each Department's performance in relation to its public service agreements; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: Ministers in charge of Departments are responsible for delivering their public service agreements. I shall continue to hold regular meetings to take stock of progress against key objectives on crime, education, transport and health, with the support of the new delivery unit. The Committee on Public Services and Public Expenditure (PSX), chaired by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and supported by HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office, has overall responsibility for monitoring performance on public service agreements.

DEFENCE

CHARM 3 Proof Firing Programme

Rachel Squire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made with the CHARM 3 proof firing programme at Dundrennan in Kirkcudbrightshire.

Lewis Moonie: Due to the foot and mouth restrictions no firings are currently taking place at the Kirkcudbright range in Scotland. The results from the proof firings for the earlier batches of the CHARM 3 round have shown a consistently high standard of quality and performance. No changes are being made to the manufacturing process for the few, final batches and, based on advice from MOD's technical, safety and commercial experts, it has been agreed that the final firings can be waived. Further proof testing while the ammunition remains in service may be required, but this has yet to be confirmed.
	There will still be a need for some CHARM 3 firings at Kirkcudbright. These firings relate to two safety trials for the Challenger 2 tank. The first is a worn barrel trial which is needed to establish with absolute certainty the amount of wear that can be permitted within a barrel while still being confident that the round can be fired safely. The second relates to trials prior to the acceptance of a new charge for A1 climatic conditions (very hot and dry). These safety trails could require the firing of an estimated maximum of 120 rounds.

Defence Science and Technology Laboratory

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the companies and organisations which submitted expressions of interest in the provision of facilities management for the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory; when he will issue invitations to tender; and when tenders will be due.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 27 June 2001
	The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has advertised a future requirement for facilities management services in the Official Journal of the European Communities (OJEC) and the MOD "Contracts Bulletin". Expressions of interest detailing financial and relevant commercial experience were invited and respondents given the appropriate period in which to submit information in accordance with EC Procurement Directives. These advertisements generated significant response from potential suppliers. I am withholding details of potential suppliers under Exemption 7 of the code of practice on access to government information.
	The anticipated date for release of invitation to tender documents was identified in the OJEC and MOD bulletin notices as 31 July 2001.
	As Dstl is still in the process of defining its requirements of facilities management services, interested parties have been advised that invitations to tender will not be released before 1 October and that a revised date of release will be notified in due course. A four-month response period is to be allowed. Accordingly, tenders are anticipated in the period of spring 2002.
	In accordance with MOD guidance, organisations invited to tender will be listed in the MOD "Contracts Bulletin" when invitations are issued.

Defence Diversification

Rachel Squire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the timetable is for, and what progress has been made on, establishing a Defence Diversification Council.

Lewis Moonie: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 26 June 2001, Official Report, column 57W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Broxtowe (Dr. Palmer).

Defence Diversification

Rachel Squire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to establish funding to encourage technological innovation for defence diversification purposes.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) encourages the widest possible exploitation of defence technology by the civil sector. Since its establishment in 1999, the Defence Diversification Agency has fulfilled this role by encouraging, fostering and facilitating the cross fertilisation of technology between the UK defence and civil sectors. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 26 June 2001, Official Report, column 57W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Broxtowe (Dr. Palmer). We have decided to bring the Defence Diversification Agency into the MOD head office where it will be best placed to continue to deliver defence diversification following the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency public-private partnership and the formation of the new company QinetiQ on 1 July 2001. We have no plans to change the roles and responsibilities of the Defence Diversification Agency nor to establish a separate technological innovation fund.

Future Joint Combat Aircraft

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what factors underlay his decision to rename the future carrier borne aircraft programme the future joint combat aircraft programme.

Geoff Hoon: The previous future carrier borne aircraft (FCBA) title dated from the period before the 1998 Strategic Defence Review when the programme was envisaged as a Sea Harrier replacement only.
	The decision to rename the FCBA programme as future joint combat aircraft acknowledges that Joint Force 2000 will operate from land bases as well as aircraft carriers. The name change also reflects ministerial signature in January this year of the UK/US memorandum of understanding which recognised that the joint strike fighter has the best potential to replace the current force of both Harriers and Sea Harriers.

Joint Strike Fighter

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in relation to the memorandum of understanding between the UK and United States Governments to participate in the next development phase of the joint strike fighter.

Geoff Hoon: The current JSF concept demonstration phase continues to make excellent progress. Following signature of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) to cover the UK's entry into the engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase of the joint strike fighter programme in January this year, the process to select a single company to be awarded the EMD contract has been proceeding to schedule. As a result of our decision to sign the MOU, UK personnel are fully involved in this process. The plan remains to award the contract in October.

RAF Air Tanker Programme

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the RAF air tanker programme.

Lewis Moonie: The future strategic tanker aircraft will replace the RAF's fleet of VC10 and TriStar air-to-air refuelling and air transport aircraft from around 2007. This will provide the RAF with a modern fleet that will ensure that our forces have truly global reach.
	The programme is at the vanguard of smart acquisition, and the integrated project team is forging innovative partnerships with industry to develop a public-private partnership solution to the requirement. Initial bids for a PFI service are due in today prior to a detailed negotiation and assessment phase. We are currently planning to make a final investment decision around mid-2002.

Future Large Aircraft Carriers

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which types of aircraft are expected to operate in the future large aircraft carriers.

Lewis Moonie: The types of aircraft aboard the future aircraft carriers will depend upon the operational circumstances at the time. However, the CVF will have the capacity to operate a wide range of aircraft, including the future joint combat aircraft; future organic airborne early warning platforms; and helicopters in a variety of roles, for example, attack, anti-submarine warfare and support.

Chatham Dockyard Radiation Workers

Jonathan R Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects former Chatham dockyard radiation workers to receive an offer of compensation under the no fault scheme for former radiation workers.

Lewis Moonie: There are two cases involving ex-Chatham dockyard radiation workers that have been assessed by the British Nuclear Fuels compensation scheme for radiation-linked diseases as eligible for compensation. The level of compensation due in both cases is still being assessed and, following completion of this exercise, offers of settlement will be made. It is not possible to predict precisely when this will be. However, in an effort to move matters forward, my Department would be prepared to consider reasonable requests for interim payments of damages in both of these cases.

Missile Defense

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria will govern whether the United Kingdom joins the United States Administration's missile defence programme.

Geoff Hoon: The US has not yet decided how it will seek to proceed with missile defence and has not put forward specific proposals for UK involvement. We have made clear that we would consider any such proposals carefully, in the light of circumstances at the time.

Aston Down

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  if he will publish the date of the offer and the amount received by his Department from Serco for the purchase of the MOD site at Aston Down;
	(2)  what proposals his Department has for the future use of MOD Aston Down.

Lewis Moonie: The former Defence Storage and Distribution Centre at Aston Down, which closed on 31 March, is surplus to requirements and is currently on the market for sale by public competition. The site is being advertised in the property press and the closing date for bids is 24 August. It has not been sold to Serco.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Strip Searches

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in upgrading the prisoner database; and what response has been given to the recommendation of the Searches on the Person Review concerning the statistical recording and monitoring of strip searches.

Beverley Hughes: The Prison Service management board is to consider a proposal for upgrading the prisoner database—local inmate database system (LIDS)—later this year. The proposal for LIDS is to put the existing database onto a more modern computer system to improve sustainability and operational flexibility.
	The requirement for statistical recording and monitoring of strip searches has been submitted to the Prison Service information technology (IT) provider, to consider whether inclusion in the LIDS upgrade is the most appropriate way of meeting this requirement.

Asylum Seekers

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers whose application for asylum has been refused have been moved from their settled address to another area while their appeal is dealt with since the setting-up of NASS.

Angela Eagle: This information is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only through examination of individual case records.
	As a matter of policy and practice, the national asylum support service (NASS) will move an asylum seeker it is supporting from their settled address only if the asylum seeker has requested it or there are exceptional circumstances which necessitate moving the asylum seeker.
	Asylum seekers transferring to support from NASS because they have received a negative decision on their application or because they have reached the age of 18 will normally be moved from their current accommodation into NASS accommodation unless there are overriding reasons for supporting them in their existing accommodation.

Asylum Seekers

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the asylum support stakeholder group to meet; and if he will make a statement about its role.

Angela Eagle: The aim of the group as originally constituted was to act as a consultative forum at the time the asylum support scheme to be administered by the national asylum support service (NASS) was being set up. The asylum support stakeholder group has not met since NASS went live on 3 April 2000.
	Currently, responsibility for formation of stakeholder groups rests with individual local authority regional consortiums responsible for asylum support issues.
	Plans are being made to establish a new national forum on asylum support for consulting with interested parties.

Asylum Seekers

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applications have been (a) rejected and (b) rejected as a result of being incorrectly completed in each year since 1995.

Angela Eagle: Information on the number of initial decisions to refuse refugee status from 1995 to 2000 is given in the table. Data on the number of refusals resulting from incorrectly completed applications are unavailable. However, such cases fall into the category of non- compliance, covering, for example, failure to provide further evidence as required, failure to respond to invitations to interview and failure to complete a statement of evidence form correctly or within the time allowed. Data on non-compliance are included in the table.
	My hon. Friend may also be interested to know that in May 2001 79 per cent. of initial decisions were upheld on appeal.
	
		Applications for asylum in the UK refused refugee status from 1995 to 2000
		
			   Refusals(11)  
			 Year Total Non-compliance 
		
		
			 1995 21,300 2,085 
			 1996 31,670 2,015 
			 1997 28,945 3,615 
			 1998 22,315 2,995 
			 1999(12) 11,025 1,085 
			 2000(12) 76,850 26,630 
		
	
	(11) All data have been rounded to the nearest five
	(12) Data for 1999 and 2000 are provisional, and exclude decisions made under backlog criteria

Asylum Seekers

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if it remains his policy to end the use of prisons to hold asylum seekers by October.

Angela Eagle: The Government remain committed to their long-term strategy of reducing the use of prison accommodation to hold immigration detainees. However, even in the long term, for reasons of geography, security and control, there will continue to be a need to hold some detainees in prisons. The use of the dedicated detention facilities managed by the Prison Service at Haslar, Rochester and Lindholme does not at present have a set duration. The temporary use of 500 additional places made available by the Prison Service in a number of local prisons is being reviewed and the timing of the withdrawal of immigration detainees from these prisons is the subject of discussions with the Prison Service.

Asylum Seekers

Ann Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what is the percentage of substantive family applications which received an initial decision within two months in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what was the average time taken for an initial decision to be made on asylum applications by single applicants without dependants in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: Information regarding the average time taken to make an initial decision is not available for the whole of 2000.
	Nearly two thirds (63 per cent.) of new substantive family applications lodged in the period of 1 April 2000 to 31 December 2000 had an initial decision within two months.
	The average time taken for an initial decision to be made on asylum applications by applicants without dependants for decisions made in the period of October to December 2000, was 14 months.
	Information on the average time taken to make an initial decision, separately identified for family and single applicants is not available for 1998 and 1999.

Asylum Seekers

Ann Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of asylum applications included dependants in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The information is given in the table. This information for 1998 and 1999 is published in the Home Office Statistical Bulletins "Asylum Statistics", copies of which are available in the Library and on the Department's website at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/ immigration1.html.
	
		Estimated proportion of applications which include dependants(13)
		
			   Percentage 
		
		
			 1998 13 
			 1999 (14)20 
			 2000 (14)10 
		
	
	(13) Percentages are based on the cases for which the information is recorded
	(14) Provisional figures

HMP Garth/HMP Wymott

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on reductions in the number of prison officers at HMP Garth and HMP Wymott.

Beverley Hughes: As part of the substantial settlements which the Prison Service received from the Treasury under the comprehensive spending review and spending review 2000, the service is required to deliver 1 per cent. cashable efficiency savings each year on its baselines. Following studies by the Prison Service's management consultancy service, the governors of Garth and Wymott are seeking to agree with the Prison Officers Association a package of efficiency measures including regrading and civilianisation. The proposed reduction at Wymott is 18 prison officer posts and at Garth 10 officer and two senior officer posts, to be partly offset by increases in civilian staff and operational support grades. The governors are satisfied that these changes can be introduced without endangering the safety of staff or prisoners or the security of the establishments.

HMP Garth/HMP Wymott

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will increase the monitoring of the running of HMP Garth and HMP Wymott.

Beverley Hughes: All prison establishments are regularly monitored by area managers against over 40 key performance targets, and the deputy director general personally reviews performance monthly. Area managers visit every establishment at least eight times a year and therefore there are no plans to introduce monitoring for Garth and Wymott over and above the current level already provided.

Double Jeopardy Rule

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for changes to the double jeopardy rule to apply retrospectively; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Bradley: The Government's manifesto included a commitment to reform the double jeopardy rule in cases involving murder and we will do so when parliamentary time allows. Details of the legislation will be announced when any Bill is published.

Sexual Offences

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library copies of the representations made to him during the period of public consultation on possible changes to the law on sexual offences.

Beverley Hughes: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Mr. Hawkins) on 27 June 2001, Official Report, column 99W.

Mr. Cameron McArthur

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to reply to the letter of 31 May (Ref. 10266/1) from the hon. Member for Northavon regarding Mr. Cameron McArthur.

Beverley Hughes: I wrote to the hon. Member about Mr. McArthur on 27 June.

Prisons

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average cost was in the last year of a place in each prison in (a) the prison estate and (b) privately run establishments; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The average cost per place for each Prison Service and privately run establishment for the financial year 2000–01 is listed in the tables.
	
		(a) Prison Service establishments
		
			 Prison name Cost per place (cash) 
		
		
			 Acklington 15,083 
			 Albany 20,007 
			 Ashwell 15,623 
			 Askham Grange 19,353 
			 Aylesbury 23,392 
			 Bedford 22,449 
			 Belmarsh 32,822 
			 Birmingham 21,487 
			 Blantyre House 19,346 
			 Blundeston 21,869 
			 Brinsford 22,606 
			 Bristol 33,029 
			 Brixton 27,750 
			 Brockhill 31,058 
			 Buckley Hall 17,735 
			 Bullingdon 17,744 
			 Bullwood Hall 27,991 
			 Camp Hill 19,153 
			 Canterbury 47,944 
			 Cardiff 23,328 
			 Castington 23,742 
			 Channings Wood 18,212 
			 Chelmsford 21,966 
			 Coldingley 19,596 
			 Cookham Wood 26,696 
			 Dartmoor 20,999 
			 Deerbolt 18,910 
			 Dorchester 30,407 
			 Dover 19,918 
			 Downview 19,210 
			 Drake Hall 14,873 
			 Durham 31,806 
			 East Sutton Park 19,590 
			 Eastwood Park 22,266 
			 Elmley 19,001 
			 Erlestoke 18,772 
			 Everthorpe 17,845 
			 Exeter 29,242 
			 Featherstone 18,733 
			 Feltham 26,361 
			 Ford 11,608 
			 Foston Hall 28,064 
			 Frankland 34,888 
			 Full Sutton 37,591 
			 Garth 19,478 
			 Gartree 24,233 
			 Glen Parva 22,479 
			 Gloucester 28,963 
			 Grendon 22,089 
			 Guys Marsh 16,365 
			 Haslar 16,777 
			 Hatfield 22,931 
			 Haverigg 18,517 
			 Hewell Grange 13,815 
			 High Down 25,700 
			 Highpoint 18,801 
			 Hindley 21,463 
			 Hollesley Bay 23,790 
			 Holloway 37,376 
			 Holme House 16,343 
			 Hull 20,803 
			 Huntercombe 24,038 
			 Kingston 24,834 
			 Kirkham 14,588 
			 Kirklevington 14,346 
			 Lancaster 22,471 
			 Lancaster Farms 22,408 
			 Latchmere House 13,717 
			 Leeds 29,774 
			 Leicester 36,566 
			 Lewes 19,686 
			 Leyhill 19,461 
			 Lincoln 25,534 
			 Lindholme 23,226 
			 Littlehey 15,805 
			 Liverpool 20,827 
			 Long Lartin 33,376 
			 Low Newton 31,716 
			 Maidstone 19,823 
			 Manchester 28,558 
			 Moorland 18,466 
			 Morton Hall 18,967 
			 The Mount 15,046 
			 New Hall 25,573 
			 North Sea Camp 15,265 
			 Northallerton 35,174 
			 Norwich 23,606 
			 Nottingham 19,539 
			 Onley 19,181 
			 Parkhurst 24,462 
			 Pentonville 22,625 
			 Portland 20,308 
			 Preston 29,166 
			 Ranby 17,218 
			 Reading 30,226 
			 Risley 18,680 
			 Rochester 20,464 
			 Send 19,371 
			 Shepton Mallet 26,599 
			 Shrewsbury 24,946 
			 Stafford 16,786 
			 Standford Hill 16,136 
			 Stocken 15,881 
			 Stoke Heath 19,597 
			 Styal 25,240 
			 Sudbury 13,635 
			 Swaleside 16,864 
			 Swansea 27,439 
			 Swinfen Hall 21,464 
			 Thorn Cross 20,886 
			 Usk 24,300 
			 The Verne 15,977 
			 Wakefield 25,703 
			 Wandsworth 20,294 
			 Wayland 15,170 
			 Wealstun 16,112 
			 Weare 17,375 
			 Wellingborough 16,516 
			 Werrington 44,668 
			 Wetherby 21,728 
			 Whatton 16,844 
			 Whitemoor 40,006 
			 Winchester 24,195 
			 Woodhill 29,721 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 18,028 
			 Wymott 19,082 
		
	
	
		(b) Privately run establishments
		
			 Prison name Cost per place (cash) 
		
		
			 Altcourse 57,063 
			 Ashfield 38,906 
			 Blakenhurst 22,845 
			 Doncaster 25,640 
			 Forest Bank 28,637 
			 Lowdham Grange 29,713 
			 Parc 39,058 
			 The Wolds 26,874 
		
	
	Buckley Hall prison returned to Prison Service management in June 2000. Rye Hill prison opened in January 2001 and is excluded because only part-year data are available. The data in the tables are not comparable with the Prison Service key performance indicators (KPI) cost per place because headquarters overheads are not included in the establishment figures. Public prisons' cost per place data are not comparable with private prisons' data as their cost includes an element of capital repayment. These data will shortly be published in the Prison Service annual report and accounts 2000–01.

Fire Alarms (Humberside)

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what percentage of cases where fire alarms were present in dwellings on fire in 2000 they (a) raised the alarm, (b) operated but failed to raise the alarm and (c) failed to operate altogether in the Humberside fire authority area.

Alan Whitehead: I have been asked to reply.
	The information relates to fires in dwellings where a smoke alarm was present that were attended by the Humberside local authority fire brigade in 1999. 2000 data are not yet available.
	In 38 per cent. of cases the smoke alarm operated and raised the alarm.
	In 15 per cent. of cases the smoke alarm operated but failed to raise the alarm.
	In 47 per cent. of cases the smoke alarm failed to operate.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

British Overseas Territories (Citizenship)

John Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to introduce a bill granting British citizenship to the citizens of the British Overseas Territories; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The British Overseas Territories Bill, which will grant British citizenship to all British dependent territories citizens in qualifying territories, was given a First Reading in the House of Lords on 21 June. The Second Reading is scheduled for 10 July. The Bill was published on 22 June. Copies of the Bill, with explanatory notes, are available from the Libraries of both Houses.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he or his Department has had recently with the Government of Sudan regarding the treatment of Sudanese Christians.

Ben Bradshaw: We continue to be deeply concerned by the suffering of all in the Sudan, regardless of religious or ethnic background. Christians do have specific concerns, which we take up with the Government of Sudan bilaterally and through the EU. In recent weeks, our ambassador in Khartoum has discussed our concerns with a number of leading Sudanese politicians, including the Vice-President, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister for Religious Affairs and the Governor of Khartoum State. He has also held a meeting with Archbishop Marona, the leader of the Episcopal Church of Sudan. This is part of a continuing dialogue on a key issue for human rights, and peace, in Sudan. Church issues are also an important part of the agenda of the EU/Sudan political dialogue. In London, my officials keep in close touch with representatives of the British Churches with an interest in Sudanese affairs.

Nice Treaty

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  if the Government will delay ratification of the Nice treaty until the Republic of Ireland can ratify the treaty;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the implications of the outcome of the Irish referendum on the future of the Nice treaty.

Peter Hain: I refer to the right hon. Gentleman to my answer of 28 June 2001, Official Report, column 167W.

Nice Treaty

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the clauses in the treaty of Nice which are essential to EU enlargement.

Peter Hain: The Nice treaty as a whole is essential for enlargement. The enlarged EU we want cannot work effectively without the changes that Nice makes to the EU's institutions and procedures. All member states are agreed that Nice opens the way for enlargement, and that, with the entry into force of the treaty, the EU will have completed the institutional changes necessary for the accession of new member states.

Nice Treaty

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact on the future of the Nice treaty of one member state's inability to ratify it.

Peter Hain: In order for the treaty of Nice to enter into force it must be ratified by all 15 member states in accordance with their constitutional requirements.

Nice Treaty

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to hold a referendum on UK ratification of the Nice treaty following the Irish referendum.

Peter Hain: The treaty of Nice can come into force only if it is ratified by all member states in accordance with their own constitutional requirements. In the UK, this means that Parliament must pass legislation to amend the European Communities Act 1972. Parliament will decide whether or not to accept the Nice treaty, as it did for the Single European Act, Maastricht and Amsterdam.

Arms Trade

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what policies his Department will adopt at the UN conference in New York in July on the trade in small arms and light weapons; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government attach great importance to supporting efforts to reduce the uncontrolled spread and use of small arms and light weapons.
	The UK and its European partners have consistently maintained that the forthcoming UN conference on the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects should adopt a politically binding programme of action containing concrete measures to deal with both the supply and demand side of the trade. The UK has made substantial contributions to proposals put forward by the EU on key areas of the programme of action. These include:
	export control and export licensing criteria;
	marking and tracing and brokering where the EU hopes for progress towards a commitment regarding the elaboration of a legally binding instrument;
	management of stockpiles and surpluses, and destruction;
	disarmament, demobilasation and reintegration (DD&R) of ex-combatants;
	assistance for implementation of concrete measures agreed on, with a view to improving the situation on demand side, through weapons collection and destruction, capacity-building for border control, customs and law enforcement etc.
	We believe that the conference should not be seen as the end but the start of a process, which must be actively followed up. The EU has supported the proposal of the preparatory committee chairman, Ambassador Dos Santos, for a major review conference in 2006, with meetings of states on a bi-annual basis to consider the national and regional implementation of the agreed programme of action.
	The Government also acknowledge the important role which NGOs and civil society can play in this field. We are working to see their interests reflected in the conference's programme of action and in its follow-up.

Mr. Ian Stillman

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the case of Mr. Ian Stillman who was recently jailed in northern India.

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations HM Government have made to the Government of India regarding the detention of Mr. Ian Stillman; what assurances have been received from the Indian authorities about the health and well-being of Mr. Stillman; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Consular staff are monitoring Ian Stillman's welfare closely. They were successful in arranging his transfer to a jail more suited to his special needs. They will continue to ensure that he receives adequate medical treatment.
	The Foreign Secretary raised our concerns about Mr. Stillman's welfare at a meeting on 26 June with Prime Minister Vajpayee's principal secretary, and also our hope that his appeal will be heard swiftly. We will continue to speak to the Indian authorities.

Drugs Trade Conference

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the conference on the global economy of illegal drugs held in London on 25 and 26 June.

Ben Bradshaw: This conference was the first attempt in an international gathering to address aspects of the economy of the illegal drugs trade. The conference attracted over 200 participants from 60 countries, and leading speakers in their fields. The conference looked at a number of key interrelated areas in the illegal drugs economy, including factors influencing production of illegal drugs; middle markets and how best to attack them; and the wider corrosive impacts of the drugs trade internationally, including its impact on livelihoods, governance, environment, legitimate trade and conflict. The conference also addressed the relationship between the drugs trade and other areas of illegal economic activity. These are important issues for the UK's drugs strategy and for our wider foreign policy, which we intend to follow up in the coming months.

Colombia

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Colombian Government concerning paramilitary incursions into peace village communities in the Cacarica region of Colombia.

Denis MacShane: The British embassy in Bogota is in regular contact with the Colombian authorities on the safety and protection of vulnerable groups, including the peace communities. On 27 June, the Colombian ambassador to London wrote to me in order to outline the measures that his Government are taking to protect displaced communities in the Cacarica river basin as they return to their homes. He also assured me that the Colombian Government are aware of the need to strengthen the protection mechanisms for a civilian peace scheme in the region, and will adopt the measures necessary to protect vulnerable communities there. Also on 27 June, British embassy officials met members of the San Francisco peace community close to Cacarica, and experiencing similar serious problems, to listen to their concerns first hand. The UK and Dutch Governments are sponsoring a project to build a refuge in the town of Rio Sucio where members of the peace community can stay.
	We remain very concerned about the activities of all the illegal armed groups in Colombia. We have called upon the Government of Colombia to continue their efforts to combat paramilitarism effectively and to continue taking concrete action to dismantle such groups by arresting, prosecuting and punishing all those involved.

TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS

London Underground

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he next intends to meet Bob Kiley to discuss progress towards a partial privatisation of the London Underground.

Stephen Byers: There is no question of privatising, or part privatising, the Tube. The Tube is a public service and the public sector should own and run it.
	The current Tube is not good enough. It desperately needs modernising. Of course there is a role for the private sector—working for the public sector London Underground. Together they will deliver the massive improvements that are needed for a better, more reliable and more secure Tube.
	I am not prepared to put safety on the Tube at risk. I therefore intend that there should be a double safety veto. Our proposals for the Tube will not go ahead unless:
	First, HSE accept the new safety case for London Underground's new structure, and
	Second, HSE accept the new safety case to be applied to the involvement of the private sector.
	In addition under my proposals, London Underground will run the Tube and retain responsibility for safety. I shall be making this clear to Mr. Kiley when I meet him later today.

Leeds Supertram

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the progress of the funding of the Leeds Supertram.

David Jamieson: Funding arrangements for the Leeds Supertram have now been agreed. I am delighted that the Government will be making a very substantial contribution towards the capital costs of this project, which are estimated at £487 million. It is another example of our delivery of the step change in public transport set out in the 10-Year Plan.

Roads (North-west England)

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to improve the road infrastructure of the north-west of England.

David Jamieson: The Highways Agency is currently taking forward four major road schemes in the north-west of England and 12 route management studies. In addition, the local transport plan settlement for this year allocated some £84.5 million for local roads—an increase of 75 per cent. over the last year.

"Transport 2010: the 10-Year Plan"

John Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on progress towards implementing the proposals in "Transport 2010: the 10-Year Plan".

John Spellar: The 10-Year Plan came into effect in April at the start of the new financial year. It is too early to draw conclusions about progress, but we remain firmly committed to the outcomes and targets it contains. We are setting in place mechanisms to secure and monitor delivery, and will produce a first progress report next year as part of the first review of the plan.

Regeneration Finance

Dari Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps the Government are taking to widen access to regeneration finance.

Sally Keeble: The Government's National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal sets out a programme to use mainstream funds to combat deprivation and regenerate marginalised neighbourhoods—and there will be increases of over £30 billion to these programmes over the coming three years.
	Neighbourhood renewal will focus those resources on combating deprivation and meeting the needs of local people—and local people will have a say in how they are used through Local Strategic Partnerships. We recognise, though, that in the areas with the most severe deprivation extra resources will be needed to kick-start this process. This is why we have introduced the £900 million Neighbourhood Renewal Fund, as well as the Community Chests and Community Empowerment Fund to help local people get involved in the regeneration of their neighbourhoods.

Labour Relations (Transport Industry)

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the state of labour relations in the transport industry.

John Spellar: We believe that problems at work should be resolved by constructive negotiation; accordingly we are pleased that the RMT and almost all of the relevant train operators were able to avoid a dispute planned for Monday 25 June and tomorrow, 4 July, and that the recent dispute which led to industrial action on the London Underground has been resolved with the RMT and ASLEF. I will also be meeting representatives of employers and unions in other parts of the transport industry.

Railtrack

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement regarding the future of Railtrack.

John Spellar: The Statement of Principles agreed on 2 April between the Government and Railtrack set out a new agenda for the company and a new working relationship with the Government and the Strategic Rail Authority. Railtrack is now implementing the reforms and restructuring of its organisation agreed as part of the new deal.

M6 Multimodal Study

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the M6 Multimodal Study will be published.

John Spellar: This study of the M6 between Birmingham and Manchester started in December 1999. The study is due to report to both the West Midlands and North-West Regional Planning Bodies in the autumn.

Planning Laws

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent representations his Department has received concerning reform of planning laws; and if he will make a statement.

Sally Keeble: The Department receives regular representations making proposals for changes to planning laws.

Planning Laws

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what representations his Department has received in the last 12 months concerning reform of planning laws; and if he will make a statement on the Planning Green Paper.

Sally Keeble: The Department receives regular representations making proposals for changes to planning laws. It is proposed to publish a Green Paper in the autumn on the steps that might be taken to improve the operation of the planning system.

Planning Laws

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he will make a statement on reorganising the planning system.

Sally Keeble: It is proposed to publish a Green Paper in the autumn on the steps that might be taken to improve the operation of the planning system.

Regional Government

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has for elected regional assemblies.

Phil Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to introduce legislation for regional government in England; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Whitehead: As my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced on 2 July 2001, Official Report, column 80W, the Government intend to publish a White Paper on regional government in England.

Regional Government

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he plans to publish (a) Green and (b) a White Paper on regional government in England.

Nick Raynsford: As my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced on 2 July 2001, Official Report, column 80W, the Government intend to publish a White Paper on regional government in England.
	No date has been set for publication.

Regional Government

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if the proposed regional assemblies in England outside London will levy a precept on council tax.

Nick Raynsford: As my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced on 2 July 2001, Official Report, column 80W, the Government intend to publish a White Paper on regional government in England. This will include proposals on the funding of regional assemblies, including whether they should have preaccepting powers.

Regional Government

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what representations his Department has received in the last 12 months concerning the creation of regional assemblies.

Nick Raynsford: The Department has received a number of representations from organisations and members of the public on the creation of regional assemblies.

Council Tax (Park Homes)

David Borrow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proposals he has to reform the council tax system in respect of park homes.

Alan Whitehead: We are aware of concerns of park home owners and other occupiers of low value properties about the council tax bands. We intend to publish a White Paper on local government finance later this year, and decisions on any reforms of the council tax system will be made in the context of the White Paper.

Cullen Inquiry

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action he has taken to follow up the recommendations of the Cullen inquiry.

David Jamieson: The Health and Safety Commission published Part 1 of Lord Cullen's Report into the Ladbroke Grove train crash on 19 June. I have asked them to ensure that the 89 recommendations are acted upon, and to report back to me within six months. The Chair of the HSC has asked the industry to tell him within a month how they intend to take forward the recommendations.

Fire Brigade (Shropshire)

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on Fire Brigade cover in north Shropshire.

Alan Whitehead: Responsibility for providing fire services in north Shropshire rests with Shropshire and Wrekin fire authority. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is considering an application from the authority under section 19 of the Fire Services Act 1947 which includes the replacement of two pumping appliances by one with a larger crewing capacity at both Whitchurch and Market Drayton. He will not grant approval unless satisfied that national fire cover standards will be maintained.

Rural Rail Services

Colin Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has for the improvement of rural rail services.

David Jamieson: Our aim is to bring new life and more passengers to rural rail services. The Strategic Rail Authority's Rail Passenger Partnership scheme is providing funding for new or improved local services. The SRA is also encouraging Community Rail Partnerships to promote rural lines locally and in the wider tourist market.

Local Government Funding

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what progress he is making in reviewing local government funding formulae.

Alan Whitehead: September's local government finance Green Paper set out our plans for reform of the revenue grant distribution system to local authorities. An analysis of the 16,000 plus responses we received on this and other issues was published on our website in March. A White Paper setting out our decisions on the way forward will be published later this year.

Local Government Funding

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to reform the system of standard spending assessments.

Alan Whitehead: September's local government finance Green Paper set out our plans for reform of the revenue grant distribution system to local authorities. An analysis of the responses we received on this and other issues was published on our website in March. A White Paper setting out our decisions on the way forward will be published later this year.

New Transport Infrastructure

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to reform the planning regulations and the Transport and Works Act 1992 to speed up the decision- making process on new transport infrastructure.

John Spellar: We intend to announce shortly measures to streamline planning procedures for major infrastructure projects, which include safeguarding opportunities for public involvement in the process.
	We shall also shortly be embarking on a fundamental review of Part 1 of the Transport and Works Act 1992 with the aim of identifying any scope for improving and speeding up the process for authorising guided transport projects.

Railway Industry

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to review the Government's policy regarding the ownership and structure of the railway industry.

John Spellar: The framework provided by the Transport Act 2000 is now in place to enable the Government's objectives for rail in the 10-Year Plan to be achieved. We will work with the industry to drive up performance and to identify obstacles to progress, and we wish the industry to focus on these objectives rather than on another structural reorganisation.

Transport Projects

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will give details of contracts undertaken by his Department with private firms for transport projects which do not contain a clause to recompense public funds in the event of a re-financing deal entered into by the private partner.

John Spellar: The table sets out the information requested.
	
		
			   PFI contract (contracting authority in brackets)Date of contract signature Does contract contain clause to recompense public funds in the event of refinancing by the private sector?   Notes 
		
		
			 Channel Tunnel Rail Link February 1996 No DTLR would directly benefit from any refinancing through a reduction in the requirement for an operating subsidy in future years 
			 Birmingham North Relief Road (Highways Agency) February 1992 No Finance for the Birmingham Northern Relief Road has yet to be finalised 
			 A69 Carlisle to Newcastle (Highways Agency) January 1996 No — 
			 A1(M) Alconbury to Peterborough (Highways Agency) February 1996 No Refinancing not relevant due to use of bond finance 
			 A419/A417 Swindon to Gloucester (Highways Agency) February 1996 No Refinancing not relevant due to use of bond finance 
			 M1-A1 Lofthouse to Bramham Link Road (Highways Agency) March 1996 No Refinancing discussions in progress with Highways Agency 
			 A50 Stoke to Derby (Highways Agency) May 1996 No — 
			 A30/A35 Exeter to Bere Regis (Highways Agency) July 1996 No — 
			 A19/A168 Dishforth to Tyne Tunnel (Highways Agency) August 1996 No This contract has been refinanced and Highways Agency will obtain a share of the benefit 
			 M40 Denham to Warwick (Highways Agency) October 1996 No Refinancing discussions in progress with Highways Agency 
			 MOT Computerisation (Vehicle Inspectorate) February 2000 No — 
			 Traffic Control Centre (Highways Agency) March 2001 Yes —

Strategic Rail Authority (Consultants)

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will publish a list of the technical and financial consultants currently employed by the Strategic Rail Authority, the nature of the assignment for each consultant, and the value of each contract.

John Spellar: Since its inception on 1 February 2001 the Strategic Rail Authority have used the following technical consultants with an awarded contract value. It should be noted that contract values do not necessarily equate to expenditure in this financial year.
	
		
			 Consultant Project Contract value (£) 
		
		
			 AEA Technology PTE Passenger Fares analysis 5,900 
			  Light Rail Franchising 105,000 
			  Analysis of Passenger Rail Fares 13,000 
			  Thameslink report 6,250 
			  South London Metro Study 48,000 
			  Calculation of Passenger Miles 2,500 
			 Babtie Group Ltd. DDA funding at stations 39,975 
			 Booz Allen and Hamilton Ltd. West Coast Mainline enhancement and Renewal 10,000 
			  BAFO evaluation 36,850 
			  WCML U monitoring 47,250 
			  General Economic and technical advice 50,000 
			 CJ Associates Six tracking at Paddington study 59,840 
			 Entec UK Ltd. High Speed Line study 29,780 
			 GIBB Ltd. Island Line replacement 38,000 
			  Buxton-Matlock reopening 22,816 
			  East Anglia mapping 15,000 
			  Planet model extension 99,933 
			  Old Oak Common study 2,750 
			 Maunsell Ltd. London East West study 123,935 
			  North London Line engineering 46,611 
			 MDS Transmodal Neutral Grant scheme 78,190 
			  CTRL 28,770 
			  Transpennine Market Research 33,170 
			  Freight Strategies study 6,000 
			 Mott McDonald Orbirail study 164,000 
			  East West study 48,950 
			 Mouchel Consulting Ltd. Central Railway 32,541 
			 MVA Ltd. Northern Rail 26,420 
			  High Speed Line (infrastructure) 91,900 
			  East West study 36,910 
			 Oscar Faber Greater Manchester Strategic Rail study 99,250 
			 Ove Arup and Partners Appraisal methodology for Rail Freight 86,000 
			  Impact of planned and proposed infrastructure work 70,000 
			  Review of sensitive lorry miles 60,000 
			  Heathrow new train services 33,000 
			  High Speed Line (infrastructure) 30,000 
			 Radical Ltd. Freight Strategy study 105,350 
			 Sinclair Knight Merz Freight Strategy study 118,500 
			   
			 Total  1,952,341.00 
		
	
	The SRA have also used the following technical consultants on a call-off basis.
	
		
			 Consultant  Project 
		
		
			 AEAT General technical advice 
			 Babtie Group Ltd. CTRL technical advisers 
			  Thameslink 2000 advisers 
			  General technical advice 
			 Booz Allen and Hamilton Ltd. CSC franchise replacement 
			  SWT franchise replacement 
			  Performance renegotiation 
			  Transpennine Franchise study 
			 First Class Partnership General technical advice 
			 GIBB Ltd. Rail Passenger Partnership 
			  Strategic Scenario testing 
			  Thameslink replacement 
			  General technical advice 
			 Halliburton Brown and Root Ltd. Transpennine Express Project 
			 Interfleet Technology Mark One rolling stock replacement study 
			 MDS Transmodal General technical advice 
			 Mott McDonald Economic advice 
			  General technical advice 
			 MVA Thameslink replacement 
			  ECML infrastructure 
			  General technical advice 
			 Oscar Faber General technical advice 
			 Ove Arup and Partners Wales and Borders replacement 
			  General technical advice 
			 Symonds Group Freight grant adviser 
			 WS Atkins General technical advice 
		
	
	The SRA are currently using the following financial advisers on a call-off basis.
	
		
			  Consultant Project 
		
		
			 KPMG Financial adviser 
			 Lazard brothers and Co. Ltd. Financial adviser 
			 Marsh UK Ltd. Financial adviser (insurance issues) 
			 PriceWaterhouseCoopers Financial adviser (external auditors)

Parish and Town Councils

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many applications for the abolition of parish or town councils he has received from district or unitary authorities in each of the last 10 years; and how many of these applications he has granted.

Alan Whitehead: The Local Government Act 1972 contains no provision for the abolition of parish councils. However, this legislation provides for the dissolution of parish councils where the population of a parish falls below 150. Dissolution in such circumstances is carried out by order of the district council. We have no record of any dissolution orders.
	The Local Government Act 1992 made provision for the abolition of parishes by the Secretary of State following a recommendation by the Local Government Commission. No parishes were abolished as a consequence of the structural review of local government during 1992–97.
	In implementing recommendations made by district councils under Part II of the Local Government and Rating Act 1997 the Secretary of State has abolished five parish councils, all in 1999, as follows:
	The East Lindsey (Parishes) Order 1999—the common parish council for the three parishes of Saltfleetby All Saints, Saltfleetby St. Clements and Saltfleetby St. Peter was abolished to be replaced by a single new parish and parish council of Saltfleetby.
	The Mid Sussex (Parishes) Order 1999—the parish councils of Clayton and Keymer were abolished to be replaced by a new single parish council of Hassocks.
	The Tandridge (Parishes) Order 1999—the parish council of Lingfield and Dormansland was abolished to be replaced by two new parish councils, one for each of the villages.
	The West Lindsey (Parishes) Order 1999—on the creation of the parish of Brookenby from part of the parish of Stainton le Vale, the parish council of Stainton le Vale was abolished to be replaced by a new parish council of Brookenby and a parish meeting for Stainton le Vale.

Public Transport Information System

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on progress in implementing a national public transport information system.

David Jamieson: Traveline, the national public transport information system, is now available throughout Great Britain. It provides route and timetable information for bus, coach, tram, underground, train, ferry and metro through a national-rate call to a single telephone number—0870 608 2 608.
	I am delighted that transport operators and local authorities have worked in partnership to deliver Traveline, with the support of central Government. Traveline will form part of our Transport Direct initiative. Transport Direct will allow people to plan their journeys and to compare routes and prices.

M6 (Staffordshire)

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will rule out the widening of the M6 motorway between junctions 11 and 16 in Staffordshire.

David Jamieson: Options for dealing with the problems on the M6 between junctions 11 and 16 are currently the subject of the MIDMAN multi-modal study on which the final report will be made later this year. It would be premature to make any statements on widening before the report is complete.

Rail Safety (Shenfield)

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the signals passed at danger incidents at Shenfield in the last two years.

David Jamieson: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) advise that there has been only one SPAD incident at Shenfield in the last two years. This occurred on 9 November 1999, when a First Great Eastern passenger train over-ran signal L487 by three yards. The cause of this incident was linked to driver misjudgment of the trains braking.

Railways

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the process is of allocation of funds from (a) the Railway Development Fund and (b) the Freight Strategy.

David Jamieson: The concept of the Railway Modernisation Fund is outlined in the Strategic Rail Authority's Strategic Agenda. Further details will be provided in its Strategic Plan, to be published in November.

Railways

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what moneys have been allocated to Scotland from the Freight Strategy.

David Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority's Freight Strategy includes a number of infrastructure schemes with relevance to Scotland and the new funding schemes will be applied on a GB-wide basis.
	In addition the Scottish Executive have responsibility for the administration of the Freight Facilities and Track Access Grant schemes in Scotland.

Railways

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions over how many years the Freight Strategy is to run.

David Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority's Freight Strategy is designed to deliver growth over the period of the Government's 10-Year Plan but also looks to provide sustainable growth beyond the 10-year horizon.

Empty Homes

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make it his policy to allow local authorities a discretionary power to levy 100 per cent. council tax on long-term empty homes within their area; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Whitehead: In the Rural White Paper last November, we set out proposals to consult on giving local authorities discretion on applying the 50 per cent. discount for second homes. We are considering whether the principle of greater local discretion could be extended to long-term empty homes as well.

Municipal Incinerators

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what representations his Department has received in the last 12 months concerning planning permission for the construction of new municipal incinerators; and if he will make a statement.

Sally Keeble: Some 1,304 representations (including 237 as signatures on a petition) concerning 14 sites, either where planning permission has been granted or there are proposals for future development, have been received. Two of the sites relate to applications for waste to energy incinerators at Belvedere and Edmonton, in the London boroughs of Bexley and Enfield respectively, where the applications have been made to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 because they are proposed to generate more than 50 megawatts.

Departmental Merger Costs

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the estimated administrative cost was of the merger of the Departments of the Environment and Transport in 1997.

Alan Whitehead: The costs and benefits of the merger in 1997 of the Department of the Environment and the Department of Transport were set out in the DETR Merger Group Report published by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions in August 1997. Estimates of expenditure, including those elements designed to modernise the working methods and service delivery of the new Department and to take advantage of best practice, for example in IT and financial management systems, are set out in the table.
	
		
			 Expenditure area £ million 
		
		
			 Measures to link office automation systems 0.1–0.2 
			 Measures to move to a single office automation system 3–6 
			 Measures to move to a single financial management and accounting system 6–9 
			 Conversion of parts of an HQ building to provide flexibility 0.35 
			 Measures to co-locate Ministers and supporting staff 0.2 
			 Co-location of Finance divisions 0.05 
			 Co-location of Personnel divisions 0.05–0.08

EU Committee of the Regions

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans (a) he and (b) his Ministers have to (i) address and (ii) visit the EU Committee of the Regions.

Alan Whitehead: Neither my right hon. Friend nor his ministerial colleagues within this Department currently have any plans to address or visit the EU Committee of the Regions.

Electoral Law

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans the Government have to change the electoral system (a) in the Greater London Authority, (b) for the election of directly elected mayors and (c) for the election of local councillors.

Nick Raynsford: The Government have no plans to change these electoral systems.

Electoral Law

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the electoral system planned for the election of regional assemblies in England outside London.

Nick Raynsford: As my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced on 2 July 2001, Official Report, column 80W, the Government intend to publish a White Paper on regional government in England. This will include proposals on the electoral system for regional assemblies.

Empty Council Housing

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the change in the amount of empty council housing in England.

Sally Keeble: Figures showing the level of empty council housing need to be seen in the context of local authorities' overall strategies for addressing deprived areas, and areas of low demand. In this respect an increase in properties awaiting demolition may be a relevant factor. It is clearly important that local authorities turn round empty properties which are available for letting, whether immediately or after minor repairs, as quickly as possible.

Housing

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans his Department has to give an equity stake to residents in (a) council housing and (b) non-municipal social housing; and if he will make a statement.

Sally Keeble: The Government are committed to examining the ways in which social tenants might gain a stake in their homes. A range of options for how this might be done and the issues that these raise are now being considered. The current intention is to consult more widely once this work is further advanced, probably in the autumn.

Departmental Restructuring

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many civil servants were employed by the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions in April 2001; and how many it is anticipated will be employed by the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions once departmental restructuring is completed.

Alan Whitehead: At 1 April 2001 the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Central) (DETR (C)) employed 4,044 staff. We estimate that once restructuring is complete, the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions (Central) ((DTLR (C)) will employ approximately 3,400 staff subject to final decision on the number of support staff to transfer. This figure also takes account of staff movements between DTLR, Home Office and Department of Trade and Industry which follow from Machinery of Government changes made after the election. Neither figure includes staff employed by DTLR in Government Offices.

Departmental Restructuring

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the estimated administrative cost is of the recent changes to the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Alan Whitehead: Costs incurred so far on changing the Department's name amount to £25,250. No major systems costs associated with machinery of government changes have been incurred. Work of a short-term nature to implement the transfers of responsibilities is in hand, involving staff at various levels and in a number of different areas of the Department. No central record is kept of the time spent and no estimate of the staff cost is therefore available. However, these costs are not significant.

Regional Chambers

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the (a) budgets and (b) administrative costs were for each of the regional chambers in England for each financial year since their establishment; and what their planned (i) budgets and (ii) administrative costs are for the next two years.

Nick Raynsford: The eight regional chambers have been established voluntarily by bodies representing the interests of each region. The Government proposed earlier this year to provide £15 million for the chambers over a three year period to enable them to strengthen their role in the regions. It is hoped to make a further announcement about this soon; otherwise, their costs and budgets are a matter for the chambers and their members.

Ministerial Responsibilities

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the responsibilities are of each Minister in his Department.

Alan Whitehead: The Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR) has seven Ministers:
	The right hon. Stephen Byers, Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions;
	John Spellar MP, Minister for Transport;
	Right hon. Nick Raynsford MP, Minister for Local Government;
	Lord Falconer of Thoroton QC, Minister for Housing and Planning; and
	David Jamieson MP, Sally Keeble MP and Dr. Alan Whitehead MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretaries.
	Full details of individual portfolios are set out in a DTLR press notice published on 12 June, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

Homelessness

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the trend in the number of priority homeless acceptances in England since 1997.

Sally Keeble: The number of households accepted by local housing authorities as unintentionally homeless and in priority need during the 12 months prior to March 2001 was 113,590. That is 2.5 per cent. higher than the number of households accepted during the 12 months prior to March 1997 110,810.
	It is greatly to the credit of local housing authorities that they have been able to meet their statutory obligations to help those who are homeless and in most need of accommodation, and they are to be congratulated.
	The underlying reason for the increase in acceptances is a shortage of affordable accommodation in some areas, especially London and the south-east. This shortage follows a significant cut in housing resources, when the 1992–97 Government cut total capital investment in housing from £3.9 billion in 1992–93 to planned spending of only £1.5 billion in 1997–98. High property prices in a very buoyant housing market, particularly in these areas, may also have contributed to an increase in homeless acceptances by reducing the availability of low cost affordable accommodation.
	The Government have substantially increased the resources available for housing investment to tackle the significant problems they inherited. The housing resources provided for the current year, of around £3.3 billion, are twice the amount made available for 1997–98, and further significant increases are planned for the next two years. As part of this, we have nearly doubled the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme with an additional £872 million aimed at building more affordable social housing. Our target is to provide at least 100,000 new or improved homes for low-cost renting or ownership through the Approved Development Programme and other programmes between April 2001 and March 2004.

QE2 Centre

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the operating loss or profit of the QE2 Centre was in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Whitehead: The operating surpluses for the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre Trading Fund were:
	
		
			 Year  £ 
		
		
			 1997–98 687,000 
			 1998–99 48,000 
			 1999–2000 216,000 
			 2000–01 159,000 
		
	
	Further information on the Centre can be found in its Annual Report and Accounts for each of the above years, copies of which have been placed in the House Libraries.

Postal Voting

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will set up an investigation into the working of the new postal voting arrangements in the recent general election.

Alan Whitehead: The Electoral Commission, which was established by the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, will publish a report shortly on various aspects of the administration of the general election, in accordance with section 5 of the Act.

Home Zones

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the home zones currently in operation.

Sally Keeble: My Department is monitoring eight home zone pilots in England. The schemes are in Ealing, Lambeth, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham, Peterborough, Plymouth and Sittingbourne. The pilots are at different stages of development, and works are planned to commence in all the schemes by the end of the year.
	Local authorities are free to take forward home zones outside of the monitoring process. We are aware that home zones have been completed in Birmingham, Tower Hamlets and Luton, and are being implemented in Hertford and Bristol. A number of local authorities included proposals for home zones in their local transport plans.

Airport Slots

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans the Government have to reform the allocation of take-off and landing slots at UK airports so as to introduce market mechanisms into allocating such slots; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The Government said in their consultation document "The Future of Aviation", published in December 2000, that they believe that the establishment of a transparent market in slots would be a means of improving the use of slots at congested airports. However, the allocation of slots is subject to European regulation. The European Commission published proposals for a new regulation on 20 June. These do not include the use of market mechanisms for allocating slots, although the Commission has said that it intends to undertake research into the subject. The Government will be consulting the industry about the proposals.

Motor Vehicle Crashes

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will estimate the number of sleep-related motor vehicle crashes in each of the last 20 years.

David Jamieson: Statistics on the main contributory factors in road accidents are not available. Research on behalf of the Department indicates that for car drivers in particular, driver fatigue may have been a principal factor in around 10 per cent. of accidents across the road network in Great Britain.

Mobile Phone Masts

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he proposes to publish new draft regulations regarding the siting of mobile phone masts and base stations; and if he will make a statement.

Sally Keeble: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Westbury (Dr. Murrison) on 25 June 2001, Official Report, column 20W.

Beacon Status (Councils)

Patrick Hall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he will invite councils to apply for beacon status.

Nick Raynsford: We will publish an Application Brochure tomorrow, inviting councils to apply by 2 October. Copies of the brochure will be placed in the Library of the House.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

People's Panel

Mark Oaten: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proposals he has for the People's Panel.

Christopher Leslie: We are currently considering the future role of the People's Panel.

People's Panel

Mark Oaten: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the cost of the People's Panel for each year for which the figures are available.

Christopher Leslie: For the year 1998–99, the cost to all Departments for research and consultation employing the People's Panel was £459,000, for 1999–2000 the cost was £321,190 and for 2000–01 the cost was £525,865.

TREASURY

Manufacturing Industry

John Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many jobs there were in the manufacturing industry in May (a) 1997 and (b) 2001.

Paul Boateng: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. John Redwood, dated 3 July 2001
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question about the number of manufacturing jobs in May 1997 and May 2001 (1639).
	Information for May 2001 is not yet available but will be published in table 6 of the Labour Market Statistics First Release on 18 July 2001, copies of which will be placed in the House of Commons Library. In May 1997, there were 4,160,000 manufacturing jobs (seasonally adjusted).
	The table below shows the number of employee jobs in manufacturing for April 1997 and April 2001 for comparative purposes.
	
		Thousand 
		
			 UK Number(15) 
		
		
			 April  
			 1997 4,152 
			 2001 3,867 
		
	
	(15) Seasonally adjusted
	These estimates are based on the results of regular sample surveys of employers which count the number of employee jobs. The data are published in Statbase on the National Statistics website www.statistics.gov.uk./statbase/tsdataset.asp?vlnk=342 under series identifier YEJL.

Euro

John Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his preferred rate of entry is for the pound against the euro.

George Howarth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the optimum value of sterling in relation to the (a) DM, (b) euro and (c) dollar at which it would be most beneficial for the United Kingdom to enter the euro, provided that all other elements of his five economic tests are met; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: The determining factor underpinning any Government decision on membership of the single currency is the national economic interest. The Government have said that the rate at which sterling would enter the single currency would need to be consistent with economic fundamentals in the UK and compatible with sustainable convergence between the UK and other euro area economies.

Euro

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the responsibilities and role are of (a) regional chambers, (b) local authorities, (c) regional development agencies and (d) the EU Committee of the Regions in the national handover plan and preparing for the euro.

Paul Boateng: A full list of all the organisations involved in changeover planning was set out in the second outline national changeover plan, which was published in March 2000. A copy is available in the Library of the House.

Euro

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the constitutional implications of United Kingdom membership of the European single currency; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: The Chancellor's October 1997 statement on EMU acknowledged that to share a common monetary policy with other states represents a major pooling of economic sovereignty. It also stated that if the economic benefits are clear and unambiguous, there is no constitutional bar to British membership of EMU.

Euro

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the (a) dates and (b) membership of each meeting of the cross-policy committee on preparations for the European single currency over the last four years; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: The cross-party advisory group on preparations for the euro is an informal group which acts as a channel for the exchange of information and develops cross-party awareness of the continuing preparations for the euro. Given the importance of preparations for the euro, every parliamentary party is invited to be represented on the group. The group has met six times since its first meeting on 19 June 2000, the last being on 8 March 2001.

Balance of Payments

John Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his forecast is for the balance of payments in goods for the current year.

Paul Boateng: The Chancellor's most recent forecasts for the UK economy were published in the Financial Statement and Budget Report 2001 (HC 279). Forecasts for trade in goods and services and the balance of payments can be found on pages 171–175, tables B5-B7.

Annuities

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to review the age limit by which annuities have to be purchased.

Paul Boateng: I refer my hon. Friend to section 5.66 to 5.69 of the economic and fiscal strategy report published on Budget day, copies of which are in the Library. This sets out the Government's view on annuity pension arrangements.

Building Society Ballots

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to review the procedures for ballots which may result in the de-mutualisation of societies.

Paul Boateng: None.

Equitable Life

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  when he estimates the Financial Services Authority inquiry into Equitable Life will be completed;
	(2)  if he will set up an inquiry into the regulation of Equitable Life for the 10 years prior to 1 January 1999; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: Arrangements for the publication of the report on the regulation of the Equitable will be made when the report is completed and handed to HMT. We will decide whether any further action is necessary in the light of this report.

Gold Sales

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tons of gold have been sold by the Bank of England since he instructed it to do so; and what has been the average price secured from these sales.

Paul Boateng: Since the gold sales programme was announced in May 1999, as part of the restructuring of the United Kingdom's foreign currency reserves, 295 tonnes have been sold. The average price secured at the 12 auctions held to date is $273.09 per ounce.

Gold Sales

Teddy Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total number of euros purchased by the Bank of England is since he instructed it to invest 40 per cent. of the proceeds of gold sales in this currency; and what has been the average purchase price.

Paul Boateng: The proceeds from sales of gold are invested, over a period of time, in interest-bearing foreign currency assets, in broadly the same proportion as currently held in the net foreign currency reserves, as part of the Bank of England's day-to-day management of the United Kingdom's foreign currency reserves.

Currency Dealings

John Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of jobs which would be lost in currency dealing in the City of London if the pound were abolished.

Paul Boateng: The determining factor underpinning any Government decision on membership of the single currency is the national economic interest. The Government have said that the Treasury will complete an assessment of the five tests within two years of the start of this Parliament.

Renewable Energy (VAT)

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the current VAT regime affecting renewable energy materials and their installation.

Paul Boateng: A reduced rate of 5 per cent. was introduced last year on the supply and installation, in residential accommodation, of goods whose primary purpose is to save energy. Energy-saving materials sold direct to the public are not included in the list of goods and services to which, under agreements with our European partners, a reduced rate of VAT may apply. The Government are in favour of extending the reduced rate to cover these DIY installations and have raised this with the European Commission.

Kingscrest Case

Paul Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of the decision of the London VAT tribunal in the Kingscrest case on the implementation of free nursing care and the affordability of fee levels.

Paul Boateng: The decision of the VAT and duties tribunal in the Kingscrest Associates Ltd. and Montecello Ltd. case does not impact upon nursing care. The Government are of the view that the care of vulnerable people provided by residential homes should not be subject to VAT and are considering how best to challenge this decision.

Kingscrest Case

Paul Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will amend VAT regulations to clarify the VAT status of care homes following the recent decision of the London VAT tribunal in the Kingscrest case.

Paul Boateng: The Government are of the view that the care of vulnerable people provided by residential homes should not be subject to VAT and we are considering how best to challenge this decision.

IR35

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on what advice is now being offered by individual Inland Revenue officers to those businesses that may be affected by IR35.

Dawn Primarolo: Genuine businesses are not affected by IR35. IR35 applies only where, if it were not for the interposition of an intermediary such as a service company, the worker would be an employee of the client. The Inland Revenue provides a free service to anyone who wants advice on the application of the IR35 rules. This includes providing opinions on contracts of engagement and a dedicated IR35 helpline. There is also extensive material freely available on the Inland Revenue IR35 website. Full details about how to use the opinion on contracts service are available on the Inland Revenue website.

IR35

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had recently with the professional contractors group over the subject of IR35.

Dawn Primarolo: None. Inland Revenue officials have met with members of the professional contractors group executive to discuss practical issues arising out of the application and operation of the IR35 legislation.

Property (Zero Rating)

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce zero rating on house improvements and adaptations; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Boateng: Agreements with our European partners mean that we cannot introduce any new zero rates.

Property (Zero Rating)

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the policy of zero rating new property developments; and what plans he has to introduce VAT on such developments.

Paul Boateng: The Government have no plans to put VAT on new housing.

Public Service Agreements

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what ways public service agreements negotiated to date enjoin Government Departments to raise the quantity and quality of regulatory impact assessments.

Andrew Smith: Public service agreements (PSAs) focus on outcomes; the Cabinet Office has a specific PSA target to ensure that rigorous regulatory impact assessments (RIAs) are undertaken. Revised guidance on how to complete RIAs was issued to all Departments in August 2000 and followed up by a series of seminars for policy officials within each of the main regulatory Departments.

Public Service Agreements

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many, and what percentage, of public service agreements negotiated to date contain an explicit commitment to deregulation and a reduction in administration.

Andrew Smith: Public service agreements (PSAs) focus on outcomes; PSAs give Departments powerful incentives to deregulate and reduce administration, where sensible, in order to achieve those outcomes.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Prison Service

Harry Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Northern Ireland Prison Service published its 2001–04 corporate and business plan; and what performance targets have been set for 2001–04.

Jane Kennedy: The Northern Ireland Prison Service's corporate and business plan for 2001–04 was published on 29 May 2001. The following key performance targets have been set for 2001–04:
	1. To achieve 100 per cent. security for top and high-risk prisoners.
	2. To achieve 99.7 per cent. security for medium and low-risk prisoners.
	3. To reduce the number of staff assaulted by prisoners to less than the 2000–01 ratio of 6.8 per 100 prisoners.
	4. To reduce the number of prisoners assaulted by prisoners to less than the 2000–01 ratio of 8.8 per 100 prisoners.
	5. To establish baselines for weekly average hours of constructive activity attendance per prisoner for each prisoner group and set targets and system of measurement for 2002–03.
	6. To ensure an average minimum of 60 per cent. of the eligible prison population, including life sentence prisoners, is working to a sentence plan.
	7. To achieve an average minimum of five days development and training per member of staff.
	8. Representation in recruitment competitions of:
	(a) women;
	(b) Roman Catholics; and
	(c) Other under-represented groups.
	9. To ensure expenditure is within the budget allocated.
	10. To reduce the difference in cost per prisoner place between Northern Ireland and England and Wales by 5.7 per cent. by March 2002.
	11. To lay the Annual Report and Audited Accounts before Parliament prior to the summer recess.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Foot and Mouth

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she has received concerning the reopening of footpaths near areas infected with foot and mouth.

Alun Michael: Over 16,000 letters have been received during recent months on foot-and-mouth-related issues. It is not possible to say precisely how many of these concern the reopening of footpaths, although we estimate the number to be in the region of 1,000. Ministers have also met representatives of a range of interested parties, including users of footpaths, farmers and land managers; to discuss path reopening and the issue has been discussed at several meetings of the rural task force.
	A range of representations concerning the reopening of footpaths have been received by letter and in meetings with a wide range of interested parties, including users of footpaths, farmers and land managers. This subject has been discussed at several meetings of the rural task force. In the immediate vicinity of cases of foot and mouth disease, the Government have taken a precautionary approach through the 3 km closure requirement and the power given to local authorities to impose a blanket ban on the use of footpaths in a specific area where that is considered appropriate. Many representatives have sought the lifting of such blanket bans where they are no longer needed and I have announced the intention to end this power except where a local authority can show it is needed in order to maintain the effectiveness of efforts to eradicate foot and mouth disease. I hope to make a further announcement shortly following the current consultation with local authorities.

Foot and Mouth

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will encourage county councils not to lift restrictions on the use of footpaths in areas where farmers remain unable to move their stock as a result of foot and mouth disease control measures; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: As part of our strategy for rural recovery, we want to see footpaths and other rights of way reopened wherever it is safe to do so. I refer the hon. Member to the statement by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 21 June 2001, Official Report, columns 166–86. My right hon. Friend also announced a significant relaxation of movement restrictions on livestock to help the farming industry by enabling more normal trade to take place. In both cases the action taken reflects an assessment of the disease risk involved in easing restrictions. While we are determined to do everything possible to eradicate foot and mouth disease, we also have to do all we can to enable rural businesses to return to normal working, and this must include an end to footpath closures where they are no longer needed.

Foot and Mouth

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effects of foot and mouth disease on businesses in the United Kingdom and the adequacy of existing Government measures in responding to those effects.

Alun Michael: We have commissioned a series of regional surveys on the economic impact of foot and mouth disease, and we are planning further follow-up work including local area surveys. Members of the rural task force were briefed on the survey work and we will continue to keep them up to date. The general picture emerging from the surveys is very varied, with some areas and types of business displaying serious losses and others largely unaffected.
	Many small rural businesses affected by foot and mouth disease are benefiting from the measures we have introduced. Over 11,000 affected businesses have now had cash benefits either through deferral of tax payments, hardship rate relief, or grants from the RDA business recovery fund. We are keeping the operation of each scheme under review in consultation with the rural task force.
	A report on the impact on businesses in the west midlands, published last week, showed that 80 per cent. of the companies surveyed had not sought help or advice and 60 per cent. had made no change in their business and marketing. We will redouble our efforts to encourage all rural businesses to use the sources of advice and help which the Government are making available via regional development agencies and their local partners.

Sewer Flooding

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish the outcome of her discussions with Ofwat about possible remedies following sewer flooding last year.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 2 July 2001
	Discussions between the Department and Ofwat about the various causes of, and remedies for, sewer flooding are continuing. As set out in its forward programme, Ofwat is examining companies' systems for prioritising work and dealing with flooding incidents. Ofwat will publish its conclusions for consultation early in 2002.

Countryside and Rights of Way Act

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of implementing the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 on dog owners walking in the New Forest.

Alun Michael: holding answer 2 July 2001
	Part I of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 will require persons exercising a right of access under the Act to keep any dog on a short lead during the period March to July, and at any time in the vicinity of livestock. The Act also allows for further restrictions on dogs to be imposed in certain circumstances. However, the new right will not apply to any land with existing statutory rights of access (such as commons in former urban boroughs and districts), nor will it interfere with any use of land which takes place with the implied or explicit consent of the owner. The Act will enable any more relaxed regime of controls on dogs in the New Forest or elsewhere to continue with the consent or tolerance of the owner of the land.

Countryside and Rights of Way Act

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consultations are planned prior to the implementation of the provisions of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 in the New Forest.

Alun Michael: holding answer 2 July 2001
	There are a number of provisions in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 which require my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to make regulations before they are brought into force. In particular, a consultation paper was issued in March on proposals for regulations under section 11 of the Act to enable the Countryside Agency to prepare draft maps of open country and registered common land. We are now considering the comments received and we expect to lay regulations during the summer recess. We expect to consult on a framework for regulations under part V of the Act relating to the establishment of local access forums with a view to laying regulations in the autumn. We shall also be consulting widely on regulations on other provisions in part I of the Act, as well as on regulations relating to part II (rights of way).

Environmental Improvements

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government are taking to reduce the level of (a) graffiti, (b) litter, (c) fly-posting and (d) the illegal dumping of waste; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: The Government place a high priority on improving the quality of the local environment.
	(a) Graffiti—In addition to using the penalties available under the Criminal Damage Act 1971, the most effective way to tackle vandalism is through co-ordinated preventive action at local level involving all of the relevant agencies such as local authorities, schools and voluntary bodies as well as the police. The police and local authorities now have a statutory duty under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 to develop crime reduction partnerships. Police school liaison officers cover vandalism during regular visits to primary and secondary schools. The Government support the idea of Youth Action Groups in England and Wales and many have tackled issues like vandalism and graffiti. The Government are working with Crime Concern, the DfEE and the Youth Justice Board to develop the concept of these groups into the wider community.
	(b) Litter—The Government grant funds to the Tidy Britain Group (TBG) who are the Government's recognised agency for litter abatement. TBG provides local authorities and others with advice on effective litter control techniques including design, sitting and maintenance of bins.
	In addition, the Local Government Act 1999 introduced the new "duty of best value" from 1 April 2000. This requires that local authorities seek continuous improvement in the way they carry out their functions such as dealing with litter.
	In March I announced three new initiatives to address litter within a wider context:
	Local Environmental Quality Pathfinder Programme—This involves up to 50 local authorities developing innovative Local Environmental Codes of Best Practice to tackle issues such as litter, fly-tipping and graffiti. £1 million has been secured for this programme, which is being co-ordinated by TBG on behalf of DEFRA.
	Voluntary Code of Practice for Fast Food Traders—Leaders of the fast food industry will work with DEFRA on a new, demanding code of conduct for the fast food industry. It will be based on best practice for preventing and clearing up litter in and around fast food outlets, minimise packaging, and support the use of recycled and environmentally friendly materials.
	Review of legislation—A new advisory group with all relevant stakeholders is being set up to review the existing legislation and make recommendations to government about the changes and additions that are required. The review will cover: litter in water; storage and collection of trade waste; the provision and use of civic amenity sites; fly tipping; the management of trade wastes, litter on private land; and making it easier for local authorities to prosecute offenders.
	(c) Fly-posting—In October 2000 we published a Good Practice Guide to help local planning authorities control fly-posting.
	(d) Illegal dumping of waste—The action being taken by the Government on illegal waste disposal was set out most recently in the Government's response to the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee's Report on the Environment Agency (CM 4832—paragraphs 55–60).

Carbon Sinks

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what role is played by carbon sinks in the Government's climate change strategy.

Michael Meacher: The UK already has policies in place which are consistent with its responsibilities under the United Nations framework convention on climate change to protect and enhance carbon sinks, such as forests. The Government continue to support the planting of new woodland. The total uptake by sinks from UK agriculture and forestry is projected to increase from around 1.7 per cent. of UK carbon dioxide emissions in 1990 to 2 per cent. in 2010, although not all of this could be counted towards the UK's commitment under the Kyoto Protocol. If the present rate of increase in tree cover continues, afforestation since 1990 could save 0.6 MtC in 2010.

Adhesive Labels

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of the change in annual cost to the UK adhesive label manufacturing industry of the Environment Agency's reclassification of backing paper as packaging material; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the impact of the Environment Agency's reclassification of backing paper as packaging material on the competitiveness of the UK adhesive label manufacturing industry.

Michael Meacher: The Environment Agency recently issued guidance clarifying that backing paper of labels should be treated as a packaging material. The Environment Agency has estimated that the cost in 2001 to the UK adhesive label manufacturing industry as a whole will be in the order of £430,000. The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997 (as amended) should not place UK business at a competitive disadvantage in the domestic market given that imported packaging is equally obligated. Similarly, packaging which is exported from the UK is not obligated under the UK packaging Regulations.

Aarhus Convention

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what plans the Government have to implement the 1998 Aarhus convention; and when they intend to introduce legislation to effect this;
	(2)  what plans the Cabinet Office has to introduce (a) primary and (b) secondary legislation to strengthen environmental freedom of information.

Michael Meacher: The majority of the Aarhus convention's requirements (the UNECE convention of access to information, public participation in decision- making and access to justice in environmental matters) are already implemented in the UK. As with other international treaties, implementation of the convention is through a mixture of legislative measures and administrative actions.
	The powers needed to amend existing legislation in order to deliver the remaining requirements of the convention have already been taken in England. For instance, section 74 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 contains a power to implement the convention's access to environmental information provisions. The Government intend to use these powers to replace the current Environmental Information Regulations (SI 1992/3240).
	Implementation of the convention is a devolved matter. The Government intend to ratify the Aarhus convention as soon as all parts of the UK have implemented its requirements.
	The Government remain strongly committed to the Aarhus convention and its underlying principals.

Energy Efficiency Rating

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to ensure that (a) the energy efficiency rating of a home and (b) advice on how to improve it is made available to potential house purchasers at the point of sale; and if she will make a statement.

Sally Keeble: I have been asked to reply.
	As set out in our manifesto, we are committed to making it easier for people buying and selling homes through a new seller's pack. Recognising that a real opportunity exists for improving the energy efficiency of a home when it is purchased, and fully supporting the provision of energy efficiency information to home buyers, we propose to include in the seller's pack an energy rating and advice on how the energy efficiency of the property might be improved. The necessary legislation will be introduced when parliamentary time allows.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Poverty

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his definition is of poverty.

Malcolm Wicks: Information relating to poverty can be found in the second "Opportunity For All" report; "One year on: making a difference", (CM4865). Our next report is due for publication in the autumn.

Benefits (Children)

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost of increasing Child Benefit and the Child Allowance in Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit for each child aged three or under by (a) £10, (b) £15 and (c) £20.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is in the table.
	
		
			 Proposed increase £ million 
		
		
			 £10 1,350 
			 £15 2,050 
			 £20 2,700 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Expenditure is based on the caseload given by the February 2001 Child Benefit administrative data.
	2. The cost is for one year.
	3. The figure is rounded to the nearest £50 million.

Benefits

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost of increasing Child Benefit and the Family Premium in Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit by (a) £10, (b) £20 and (c) £30 for each family in which there is at least one child aged three or under.

Malcolm Wicks: The information requested is in the table.
	
		
			 Proposed increase £ million 
		
		
			 £10 1,150 
			 £20 2,300 
			 £30 3,500 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Expenditure is based on the caseload given by the February 2001 Child Benefit administrative data.
	2. The cost is for one year.
	3. The figure is rounded to the nearest £50 million.

Exchange Trading Schemes

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what advice his Department offers to individual officers on how to treat benefit claimants who are also engaging in local exchange trading schemes.

Malcolm Wicks: Guidance for Benefits Agency staff on the treatment of people engaging in local exchange trading schemes is contained in the "Decision Maker's Guide", a copy of which is in the Library.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is on the granting of Jobseeker's Allowance to jobseekers with temporary national insurance numbers.

Malcolm Wicks: If a person does not have a national insurance number and makes a claim for Jobseeker's Allowance, their local Benefits Agency office should invite them to attend an evidence of identity interview and complete the relevant documentation for the allocation of a national insurance number to be considered. Provided the person's identity can be verified their claim for Jobseeker's Allowance will be treated in the normal way.
	Temporary national insurance numbers are designed only for use by employers who send their returns to the Inland Revenue electronically, and do not know a new employee's national insurance number.

Housing Benefit

Dari Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of council house occupiers are claiming Housing Benefit in Stockton, South; and how many people in Stockton, South in total are claiming Housing Benefit.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is not available in the format requested as Housing Benefit data for the parliamentary constituency of Stockton, South are not available. Such information as is available is as follows.
	At February 2001, a total of 12,800 people were claiming Housing Benefit in Stockton on Tees borough council, 8,600 of whom were local authority tenants.
	Information on the number local authority tenancies in existence in each authority is not collected by central Government.

Housing Benefit

Dari Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to reform Housing Benefit in respect of amalgamating the tax and benefit systems.

Malcolm Wicks: Our long-term aim is to make structural changes to Housing Benefit and its interaction with the tax system. The final design of Pension Credit and the new tax credits, and how they will interact with Housing Benefit, will be set out in due course.
	However, our immediate priority is to continue to improve the administration of the current Housing Benefit scheme.

Housing Benefit

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average length of time is for a Housing Benefit application to be processed, broken down by local authority.

Malcolm Wicks: From April 2000, local authorities in England and Wales have been collecting data against best value performance indicators for the speed, accuracy, cost and security of their Housing Benefit services. Analogous performance indicators have been set by the Accounts Commission for Scottish authorities.
	The Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions expects to publish this summer unaudited and estimated data for 2000–01 against all best value performance indicators in respect of English authorities. Final results will be published once this provisional data have been fully analysed.
	Prior to the introduction of best value, the Audit Commission collected data for the last six months of 1999–2000 on the average length of time taken by English and Welsh authorities to process new Housing Benefit claims. This information is set out in two reports: "Local Authority Performance Indicators 1999–2000—Council Services Compendium For England", published on 10 January 2001, a copy of which is in the Library; and "Local Authority Performance Indicators In Wales, 1999–2000", published on 26 March 2001.

Housing Benefit

Dari Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reason Working Families Tax Credit is taken into account in full when calculating Housing Benefit.

Malcolm Wicks: Housing Benefit (HB) is an income- related benefit and most types of income are generally taken fully into account when calculating entitlement. This applies equally to the Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC), which is intended to help meet ordinary living costs. To disregard WFTC when calculating HB entitlement would result in double provision from the Government for the same basic living costs.
	However, limited situations exist where WFTC is partly disregarded in the assessment of HB. People who work 30 hours a week or more and who have children may get a partial disregard of WFTC if their earnings are very low. In addition, people with relevant child care costs which cannot be fully met from earnings can have the balance of those costs disregarded.

Pensioner Poverty

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis) of 25 June 2001, Official Report, column 35W, on pensioner poverty, if he will set out how the Government have ensured that no pensioner has to live on less than £92.15 a week.

Ian McCartney: The significant increase in the Minimum Income Guarantee and the increase in the lower and upper capital limits in April together with our successful publicity campaign ensure that no pensioner has to live on less than £92.15 a week. We will continue to work in partnership with the voluntary sector and local authorities to find ways of identifying and encouraging those who are likely to benefit from the Minimum Income Guarantee to claim.

Working Age/Pensioner Organisations

Kali Mountford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the new organisations for people of working age and pensioners will be established.

Alistair Darling: The Government are establishing a new business for people of working age, Jobcentre Plus, and a new service for pensions and pensioners, the Pension Service.
	Jobcentre Plus will bring together the Employment Service with the working age part of the Benefits Agency to deliver a single, integrated service to people of working age and employers. The Pension Service will provide a unified, better and more modern service for today's and tomorrow's pensioners.
	The first Jobcentre Plus offices will be launched in the autumn. Beyond that, we intend that Jobcentre Plus and the Pension Service will formally come into existence as national organisations from 1 April 2002. The Benefits Agency and the Employment Service will therefore cease to exist at the end of this financial year on 31 March 2002.

Age Discrimination

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what evidence he has about the impact of age discrimination in restricting employment opportunities; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: There is a wealth of UK and European research which has tried to measure the effect of age discrimination, but it is difficult to give a robust statistical analysis of its extent and impact. Research is inevitably based on people's own perceptions of employment related age discrimination. Initial findings from the evaluation of the code of practice on age diversity in employment indicate:
	around one in four older people believe that they have experienced age discrimination in relation to an actual or possible job at some point in their working lives; and
	the use of age criteria in job selection has halved from 27 per cent. to 13 per cent. since the code was launched in June 1999.
	These initial findings were published in March in "Age Diversity: Summary of Research Findings", copies of which are in the House Library.
	The Government are continuing to promote vigorously age diversity in the workplace through the age positive campaign, which highlights the business benefits of an age diverse work force. This includes: three national and regional awards initiatives, which serve to publicise and reward achievements and examples of good practice; direct mail campaigns targeting selected industry sectors; and the placing of articles in trade sector and regional press. Later this year we are launching an age diversity website, which will provide information and guidance and include a discussion forum.
	As part of the work on taking forward the development of clear and effective employment legislation on age by 2006, the Government have set up an age advisory group of key social partners to help in identifying the issues that need to be addressed. The group, which includes representatives from the CBI, TUC, Age Concern, CIPD and Employers Forum on Age, will also be offering advice on further ways of achieving the changes in culture that will contribute to the success of tackling age discrimination.

Disability Living Allowance

Rachel Squire: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what percentage of appeals against refusal of an award of Disability Living Allowance were successful; and how many appeals were made in each of the last three years.

Maria Eagle: The information is in the table.
	
		Disability Living Allowance (DLA) appeal decisions
		
			   Total appeals received in the Appeals Service(16),(17) Successful appeals following hearing by Appeals Service (percentage)(18),(19) 
		
		
			 1998 47,025 14,900 (32%) 
			 1999 49,857 16,200 (32%) 
			 2000 57,522 20,800 (36%) 
		
	
	(16) Figures are based on 100 per cent. data from DLA computer system.
	(17) Figures relate to appeals due to refusal of benefit or dissatisfaction with award.
	(18) Figures are based on 5 per cent. data and relate to 12 months ending November.
	(19) Successful appeals do not include successful appeals against the rate or period of an award of an existing award.
	Notes:
	1. It is likely that the increase in the appeal success rate between 1999 and 2000 (an increase from 32 per cent. to 36 per cent) results from the introduction of DMA in late 1999, together with the pressure of the recovery that followed during 2000. DMA introduced a number of changes to the decision-making process, including a move away from a mandatory review prior to the appeal going forward, to a reconsideration as part of the appeal procedure. Decisions appealed against are now routinely reconsidered, but we are aware that some decision-makers need time to become proficient in the new procedures following DMA implementation.
	2. The figures quoted in the reply relate only to refusals of DLA. It is worth noting that the total figure for all DLA appeals shows no significant change in overturn rate in the same period.
	Source:
	Department for Work and Pensions

Annuities

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what investigations his Department is undertaking into the effectiveness of annuities.

Ian McCartney: We have the issue under general review, as my right hon. Friend the Chancellor made clear in his Budget statement.

Minimum Income Guarantee

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number of pensioners in Wales eligible for the Minimum Income Guarantee.

Ian McCartney: The latest estimate is that around 97,000 pensioners in Wales are benefiting from the Minimum Income Guarantee. An estimate of the number of pensioners eligible but not claiming is not available.
	Notes:
	1. Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling error.
	2. Pensioners are defined as where the claimant, and/or partner are aged 60 or over.
	3. Figure is rounded to the nearest hundred and is expressed in thousands.
	Source:
	Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, February 2001.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Tourism

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will publish the number of overseas visitors to Britain in each quarter since May 1997.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 25 June 2001
	Quarterly figures for the number of visits to the UK from overseas are published by the Office for National Statistics as part of the international passenger survey. From May 1997, they are as follows:
	
		Thousand 
		
			 Year/Quarter Visits 
		
		
			 1997  
			 2 6,447 
			 3 8,168 
			 4 5,961 
			   
			 1998  
			 1 4,804 
			 2 6,834 
			 3 8,027 
			 4 6,080 
			   
			 1999  
			 1 5,046 
			 2 6,799 
			 3 7,913 
			 4 5,636 
			   
			 2000  
			 1 4,993 
			 2 6,733 
			 3 7,923 
			 4 5,541 
			   
			 2001  
			 1 (20)4,920 
		
	
	(20) Estimated

Tourism

John Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will publish the funding made available to promote tourism in each regional tourist board area by its regional development agency.

Kim Howells: We have contacted the Department for Trade and Industry to request some of the information required, and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as it is available, placing copies of my letters in the Libraries of both Houses.

The Dome

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people are employed on the Dome site; and in what capacity.

Kim Howells: holding answer 25 June 2001
	The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) currently employs 66 people at the Dome site in the following roles:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Chairman's/Finance Director's Offices 7 
			 Decommissioning 6 
			 Finance 17 
			 Legal 3 
			 Human Resources 5 
			 Information Technology 4 
			 Press Office 3 
			 Support 21 
		
	
	With effect from 1 July 2001, the number of people employed by NMEC was reduced to 31.

The Dome

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what are the total (a) maintenance, (b) security and (c) other continuing costs of the Dome; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: holding answer 25 June 2001
	The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) has advised that its budgeted costs for June for the Dome and site on which its stands are as follows:
	Maintenance: £72,000
	Security: £70,000
	Other site costs: £344,000
	(including rates at £300,000 which have since been refunded).

The Dome

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on how many occasions officials of the Health and Safety Executive have visited the Dome since December 2000; and what the purpose of the visit was in each case.

Kim Howells: holding answer 25 June 2001
	Officials from the Health and Safety Executive visited the site in January (at the invitation of the New Millennium Experience Company) to discuss its decommissioning programme and on 26 February as part of a routine inspection.

New Millennium Experience Company

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many court judgments have been made against the New Millennium Experience Company; and if she will list (a) settled and (b) pending court actions.

Kim Howells: holding answer 25 June 2001
	There have been seven county court judgments issued against the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC), all of which were settled by 31 December 2000. Judgment against the company was awarded in an overseas action by a Belgian sub-contractor relating to a small contractual claim. This was paid in April 2001. In addition, an employment dispute resulted in a court action against NMEC for a small contractual claim. This has also been paid. NMEC has recently, out of court, settled court actions brought against it by a construction contractor and by an engineering company. The details of these claims are commercially confidential.
	There are two cases currently involving pending court actions. One is a dispute with a lighting maintenance company, and the other arises from a trademark dispute.

New Millennium Experience Company

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is the value of legal fees (a) invoiced and (b) paid by the New Millennium Experience Company in relation to settled or pending court actions.

Kim Howells: holding answer 25 June 2001
	The value of legal fees paid to date by the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) in respect of settled court actions against the company is circa £186k. The company is still awaiting final reconciliation of legal fees in relation to these cases.

Royal Armouries

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the finances of the Royal Armouries.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 25 June 2001
	Following restructuring of the Royal Armouries' relationship with their private sector partner in July 1999, additional grant-in-aid of £1 million per annum has been made available to cover the cost of the responsibilities transferred. The additional grant support is conditional on improvements in management and efficiency which are now being implemented as an essential component of the Royal Armouries' strategy for the future. Further grant has been made available to enable free access for children and the over-60s at the Royal Armouries' Leeds museum from 1 April 2001, and for adults from 1 December. The Royal Armouries is operating within its agreed budget and is so far on track to meet its major visitor and revenue targets for the year 2001–02.

Religious Broadcasting

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to enable religious organisations to obtain a local digital licence.

Kim Howells: The recent White Paper "A New Future for Communications" announced that the Government will bring forward legislation to allow religious bodies to hold a local terrestrial digital radio licence.

Religious Broadcasting

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her policy is regarding the change from analogue radio licences to digital licences for (a) Christian broadcasters and (b) non-Christian broadcasters.

Kim Howells: Religious bodies are currently disqualified from holding digital radio licences. The recent White Paper "A New Future for Communications" announced that the Government will bring forward legislation to allow religious bodies to hold a local digital licence and invited comments on relaxing the ownership of other licences by such bodies. We are currently considering the responses. The Government will publish details of their proposals in a draft Bill as announced in the Queen's Speech.

Religious Broadcasting

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with United Christian Broadcasters about their desire to obtain a new licence.

Kim Howells: None. However, the former Under-Secretary, my hon. Friend the Member for Rossendale and Darwen (Janet Anderson), met with representatives of United Christian Broadcasters several times. The last meeting was on 4 April.

School Sport

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions her Department has had with the Department of Education and Skills in relation to increasing the number of hours spent on sport in schools.

Richard Caborn: DCMS and DfES have been working closely together to deliver a significant amount of investment to allow greater opportunity for young people to spend more time on sport in and outside of schools. Work to date includes the school sport co-ordinators programme, NOF's opportunities for young people: PE and sport in schools initiative, space for sport and arts and the action points on education contained within the Government's plan for sport, published earlier this year. In June, my officials met colleagues at DfES to discuss the framework for enabling schools to offer two hours of high quality PE and school sport to their pupils, as set out by the Prime Minister on 11 January this year. We will continue to work together to bring about improvements in physical education and in the time spent by children in sport and other forms of physical activity.

S4C

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the Under-Secretary will next meet the senior management of S4C.

Kim Howells: I am due to visit S4C in Cardiff on 10 July.

Cricket

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action she is taking to prevent further crowd trouble at international cricket matches.

Richard Caborn: Following my meeting on 27 June with representatives of English cricket and my right hon. Friend the Minister of State at the Home Office, I have today appointed a review group to consider recent problems of disorder at cricket matches and make recommendations on practical measures for ensuring the safety of spectators and players. The group will be chaired by a senior official from my Department, and will include representatives of the Home Office, the Association of Chief Police Officers and the cricket authorities. A representative of the Football Licensing Authority will join the group to provide expert guidance on issues of stadium safety. I expect the group to report to me within six weeks.

Free Television Licence Scheme

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer in relation to extending the free television licence scheme to all pensioners.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had no such discussions. The Government have no plans at the present to extend free television licences to pensioners below the age of 75.

Football Transfers

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with the football authorities on proposed changes to the transfer system.

Richard Caborn: I will be having introductory meetings with a number of football's governing bodies over the next few weeks, including the Football Association, the FA Premier League, the Football League and the Nationwide Conference. These discussions will cover a range of issues, among which will be the proposed changes to the international transfer system, on which FIFA and UEFA reached an in-principle agreement with the European Commission on 5 March. The Government support the sport's UK governing bodies in working with the international football authorities towards a new transfer framework which fully protects the interests of smaller clubs.

National Stadium

John Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for West Lancashire (Mr. Pickthall) of 25 June 2001, Official Report, column 37W, if the review of the Wembley Stadium project being undertaken by Mr. Patrick Carter covers the re-inclusion of an athletics facility.

Richard Caborn: The terms of reference for the review published by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 25 July 2001 specifically excluded athletics from the scope of the review of the national stadium being undertaken by Patrick Carter.

Office of Communications

John Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to create a shadow office of communications prior to reform of broadcasting and media legislation.

Kim Howells: As announced in the Queen's Speech on 20 June, a draft communications Bill will be published later this session. In the meantime we are looking at practical measures to ensure that the office of communications is able to assume regulatory functions as quickly as possible after that Bill receives Royal Assent.

Children's Hospices

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what will be the impact on children's hospices of the new opportunities funds.

Richard Caborn: The new opportunities fund is currently developing a new grants programme for children's palliative care services. The programme, worth £48 million in England, will fund community, respite and bereavement services. It will provide grants to support new activities and to sustain existing good quality services which require a specific and time limited intervention. Children's hospices may be providers of these services, as may statutory sector providers and partnerships.
	The new opportunities fund is currently consulting on the best way to deliver the programme and is required to commit the resources to projects by 2004.
	The fund is also developing palliative care programmes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, although the split between services for children and services for adults has yet to be decided. The focus of the programme is currently the subject of consultation.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Jurors (Expenses)

Michael Clapham: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to review the out-of-pocket expenses of jurors.

Michael Wills: The financial loss and subsistence allowances paid to jurors are reviewed on an annual basis. The increase from the most recent review came into effect on 4 June of this year.

"Making Decisions"

Lynne Jones: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when she plans to introduce legislation to implement the proposals in "Making Decisions" (Cm 4465).

Rosie Winterton: The Government recognise the need for a fundamental reform of mental incapacity law and will therefore introduce legislation to implement the proposals in "Making Decisions" when parliamentary time allows.

HEALTH

NHS Trust Core Targets

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what definitions he has set for green, amber and red performance for NHS trust core targets for 2001–02.

John Hutton: The core targets for 2001–02 can be found in the NHS plan. The criteria that will be used to assess traffic light national health service performance during 2001–02 have yet to be determined.

Medical Negligence

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to reform the law relating to medical negligence claims; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The current system for dealing with clinical negligence claims is distressing, costly and time consuming, both for patients making claims against the National Health Service and for those defending claims, including doctors, nurses and other NHS staff involved. The need for reform—to address the spiralling costs, the length of time taken to resolve claims and the proportion of costs taken up in legal charges—is clear, and was reflected both in last year's NHS plan and in the Government's election Manifesto. We are currently considering how best to take this forward and will announce our plans in due course.

Vaccines

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the vaccines and their manufacturers licensed since 1986 which contain thiomersal (a) which were administered in the routine vaccination programme for children and (b) which were available for non-routine vaccination for children.

Hazel Blears: All childhood vaccines licensed since 1986 which have ever contained thiomersal as an excipient are listed in the table. Some of these vaccines no longer contain thiomersal as an excipient because it has been removed from the finished vaccines. The table is annotated to identify which vaccines have been used or are used as part of the childhood immunisation schedule and have been centrally purchased by the Department of Health.
	
		
			  MA specific/product name  Licence holder/company name Current MA status MA date first granted 
		
		
			 PL 10592/0118 Fluarix vaccine injection Smithkline Beecham plc Granted 27 February 1998 
			 EM 13767/0002 Triacelluvax vaccine injection—1 syringe pack without needle Chiron S.P.A. Granted 11 January 1999 
			 EM 13767/0005 Triacelluvax vaccine injection—1 syringe pack with attached needle Chiron S.P.A. Granted 11 January 1999 
			 EM13767/0006 Triacelluvax vaccine injection—1 syringe pack with separate needle Chiron S.P.A. Granted 11 January 1999 
			 EM 13767/0007 Triacelluvax vaccine injection—5 syringe pack without needles Chiron S.P.A. Granted 11 January 1999 
			 EM 13767/0008 Triacelluvax vaccine injection—5 syringe pack with attached needles Chiron S.P.A. Granted 11 January 1999 
			 EM 13767/0009 Triacelluvax vaccine injection—5 syringe pack with separate needles Chiron S.P.A. Granted 11 January 1999 
			 EM 13767/0010 Triacelluvax vaccine injection—10 syringe pack without needles Chiron S.P.A. Granted 11 January 1999 
			 EM 13767/0011 Triacelluvax vaccine injection—10 syringe pack with attached needles Chiron S.P.A. Granted 11 January 1999 
			 EM 13767/0012 Triacelluvax vaccine injection—10 syringe pack with separate needles Chiron S.P.A. Granted 11 January 1999 
			 EM 15970/0001 Primavax vaccine injection Pasteur Merieux MSD Granted 5 February 1998 
			 PL 00003/0318 Wellcome pertussis vaccine injection BP The Wellcome Foundation Ltd. Cancelled 21 February 1994 
			 PL 00025/0295 H-B Vax II Paediatric vaccine 5ug hepatitis B surface antig Merck Sharp and Dohme Ltd. Cancelled 14 December 1993 
			 PL 00039/0444 Evans adsorbed tetanus vaccine BP Medeva Pharma Ltd. Cancelled 28 January 1994 
			 PL 00039/0445 Evans diphtheria and tetanus vaccine adsorbed BP(21) Evans Medical Ltd. Cancelled 22 December 1993 
			 PL 00039/0462 Fluvirin vaccine injection EP Evans Medical Ltd. Cancelled 25 August 1994 
			 PL 00039/0466 Evans diphtheria vaccine absorbed BP 60IU/ml(21) Medeva Pharma Ltd. Cancelled 29 November 1994 
			 PL 00039/0467 Evans absorbed diphtheria and tetanus vaccine injection BP(21) Medeva Pharma Ltd. Cancelled 30 November 1994 
			 PL 00039/0473 Evans adsorbed tetanus vaccine BP injection 40IU/0.5ml Medeva Pharma Ltd. Cancelled 30 November 1994 
			 PL 00039/0474 Evans adsorbed diphtheria tetanus and pertussis vaccine BP (Trivax-AD)(21) Evans Medical Ltd. Cancelled 14 September 1994 
			 PL 00039/0486 Fluvirin vaccine injection Evans Medical Ltd. Cancelled 25 August 1995 
			 PL 00039/0489 Trivax-AD vaccine injection(21) Medeva Pharma Ltd. Cancelled 29 January 1997 
			 PL 00039/0490 Fluvirin vaccine injection Evans Medical Ltd. Cancelled 23 August 1996 
			 PL 00095/0292 Pnu-imune polyvalent pneumococcal vaccine injection 25mg/antigen/ 0.5ml Cyanamid of Great Britain Ltd. Granted 6 January 1997 
			 PL 00095/0321 Pnu-imune polyvalent pneumococcal vaccine injection Cyanamid of Great Britain Ltd. Granted 28 September 2000 
			 PL 00512/0109 Influvac sub-unit vaccine injection Duphar Laboratories Ltd. Cancelled 16 August 1993 
			 PL 00512/0112 Influvac sub-unit vaccine injection Duphar Laboratories Ltd. Cancelled 2 August 1993 
			 PL 00512/0116 Influvac sub-unit vaccine injection Duphar Laboratories Ltd. Cancelled 22 August 1994 
			 PL 00512/0125 Influvac sub-unit vaccine injection Solvay Healthcare Ltd. Cancelled 25 August 1995 
			 PL 00512/0142 Influvac sub-unit vaccine injection Solvay Healthcare Ltd. Cancelled 15 August 1996 
			 PL 00512/0146 Influvac sub-unit vaccine injection Solvay Healthcare Ltd. Cancelled 14 August 1997 
			 PL 00512/0156 Influvac sub-unit vaccine injection Solvay Healthcare Ltd. Granted 16 March 1998 
			 PL 00512/0170 Batrevac vaccine injection Solvay Healthcare Ltd. Granted 14 June 2000 
			 PL 01511/0058 Anthrax vaccine (Alum precipitated sterile filtrate) Department of Health Granted 6 January 1994 
			 PL 04788/0013 Connaught labs tetanus vaccine adsorbed injection (at least) 40IU Connaught Laboratories Ltd. Cancelled 2 November 1994 
			 PL 04788/0019 Connaught laboratories influenza inactivated vaccine prefilled dose syringe 0.5ml Connaught Laboratories Ltd. Cancelled 1 September 1994 
			 PL 06745/0043 Pasteur merieux adsorbed diphtheria tetanus and pertussus vaccine BP pasteur(21) Aventis Pasteur MSD Ltd. Granted 5 October 1993 
			 PL 06745/0046 Dip-Tet vax (adsorbed diphtheria and tetanus vacc BP pasteur M)(21) Aventis Pasteur MSD Ltd. Granted 3 December 1993 
			 PL 06745/0055 Diftavax vaccine injection(21) Aventis Pasteur MSD Ltd. Granted 10 November 1993 
			 PL 06745/0056 Act-Hib DTP injection 0.5ml dose(21) Aventis Pasteur MSD Ltd. Granted 28 July 1995 
			 PL 06745/0067 MFV-Ject injection Pasteur Merieux MSD Ltd. Cancelled 25 August 1995 
			 PL 06745/0068 Merieux inactivated influenza vaccine injection BP Pasteur Merieux MSD Ltd. Cancelled 25 August 1995 
			 PL 06745/0080 Merieux inactivated influenza vaccine Pasteur Merieux MSD Ltd. Cancelled 23 September 1996 
			 PL 06745/0081 Pasteur Merieux inactivated influenza vaccine injection BP Pasteur Merieux MSD Ltd. Cancelled 28 August 1996 
			 PL 06745/0083 Pasteur Merieux MSD adsorbed tetanus vaccine injection Aventis Pasteur MSD Ltd. Granted 1 January 1997 
			 PL 06745/0085 Pasteur Merieux MSD Ltd. inactivated influenza vaccine split virion BP injection Aventis Pasteur MSD Ltd. Cancelled 8 September 1997 
			 PL 06745/0086 Pasteur Merieux MSD Ltd. inactivated influenza vaccine split virion BP injection Pasteur Merieux MSD Ltd. Cancelled 8 September 1997 
			 PL 06745/0097 H-B-Vax II paediatric vaccine injection 5mcg/0.5ml Aventis Pasteur MSD Ltd. Granted 1 January 1999 
			 PL 10592/0015 Engerix B vaccine injection 20mcg/ml Smithkline Beecham plc Granted 10 November 1993 
			 PL 10592/0038 Fluarix 15ug vaccine 0.5ml (containing 15ug Haemagglutinin) Smithkline Beecham plc Cancelled 9 May 1994 
			 PL 10592/0052 Fluarix vaccine injection Smithkline Beecham plc Cancelled 19 August 1994 
			 PL 10592/0065 Fluarix vaccine injection Smithkline Beecham plc Cancelled 25 August 1995 
			 PL 10592/0094 Fluarix vaccine injection Smithkline Beecham plc Cancelled 10 September 1996 
			 PL 10592/0111 Fluarix vaccine injection Smithkline Beecham plc Cancelled 18 August 1997 
			 PL 13767/0004 Agrippal vaccine injection Chirson S.P.A. Granted 8 March 1999 
			 PL 18532/0017 Evans vaccines absorbed tetanus vaccine 40IU Evans Vaccines Ltd. Granted 1 February 2001 
			 PL 18532/0018 Evans vaccines adsorbed tetanus vaccine 80IU/ml Evans Vaccines Ltd. Granted 1 January 2001 
			 PL 18532/0019 Evans vaccines adsorbed diphtheria vaccine 60IU(21) Evans Vaccines Ltd. Granted 1 February 2001 
			 PL 18532/0020 Evans vaccines absorbed diphtheria and tetanus injection(21) Evans Vaccines Ltd. Granted 1 January 2001 
			 PL 18532/0021 Evans vaccines absorbed diphtheria and tetanus injection(21) Evans Vaccines Ltd. Granted 1 January 2001 
			 PL 18532/0022 Trivax-AD vaccine injection(21) Evans Vaccines Ltd. Granted 1 February 2001 
			 PL 18532/0023 Trivax-AD vaccine injection(21) Evans Vaccines Ltd. Granted 1 February 2001 
			 PL 10592/0153 Triplerix-HIB vaccine injection Smithkline Beecham plc Granted 27 August 1999 
			 PL 16033/0002 Chiron Behring Begrivac vaccine injection Chiron Behring Gmbh and Co. Cancelled 19 September 1997 
			 PL 16033/0001 Behring DTP vaccine injection(21) Chiron Behring Gmbh and Co. Granted 13 August 1997 
			 PL 16033/0004 Chiron Behring adsorbed tetanus vaccine Chiron Behring Gmbh and Co. Granted 21 January 1998 
			 PL 16033/0005 Chiron Behring adsorbed diphtheria and tetanus vaccine(21) Chiron Behring Gmbh and Co. Granted 21 January 1998 
			 PL 06745/0079 ACT-HIB DTP D.C. vaccine injection(21) Aventis Pasteur MSD Ltd. Granted 17 January 1997 
			 EM 04560/0009 Tritanrix-HB vaccine injection—3ml monodose vial Smithkline Beecham Biological SA Granted 19 July 1996 
			 EM 04560/0010 Tritanrix HEPB vaccine injection—10ml multidose vial Smithkline Beecham Biological SA Granted 19 July 1996 
			 PL 15747/0003 Epaxal berna injection 500 RIA Istituto Sieroterapico Berna S.R.L. Granted 14 December 1999 
			 PL 06745/0095 Pasteur Merieux MSD inactivated influenza vaccine split virion injection Aventis Pasteur MSD Ltd. Granted 23 March 1998 
			 PL 06745/0105 Pasteur Merieux MSD inactivated split virion influenza vaccine Aventis Pasteur MSD Ltd. Granted 11 June 1999 
			 PL 0003/0312 tetanus vaccine BP in simple solution TET/VAC The Wellcome Foundation Ltd. Cancelled 21 February 1994 
			 PL 00025/0295 H-B Vax II Paediatric vaccine 5ug hepatitis B surface antig Merck Sharp and Dohme Ltd. Cancelled 14 December 1993 
			 PL 00025/0320 HB-VAX II vaccine injection 40mcg/ml Merck Sharp and Dohme Ltd. Cancelled 23 October 1997 
			 PL 06745/0045 TETAVAX vaccine BP Pasteur Merieux Aventis Pasteur MSD Ltd. Granted 30 November 1993 
			 PL 06745/0057 MFV-JECT vaccine injection Pasteur Merieux MSD Ltd. Cancelled 10 August 1993 
			 PL 06745/0060 MFV-JECT Pasteur Merieux MSD Ltd. Cancelled 8 August 1994 
		
	
	(21) Has been/is used as part of the childhood immunisation schedule and the vaccine has been centrally purchased by Department of Health.
	Note:
	All other vaccines are non-routine

Dudley Group of Hospitals

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the periods of time patients have to wait for beds in the accident and emergency department and medical assessment unit of the Dudley Group of Hospitals.

Yvette Cooper: The data for most recent period, March to May 2001, show that patients in the accident and emergency department waited for the following periods for admission in percentage terms:
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 Admitted within two hours 85.9 
			 Admitted two to four hours 6.4 
			 Admitted over four hours 7.7 
		
	
	Source:
	The Dudley Group of Hospitals National Health Service Trust
	The Medical Assessment Unit does not record data on patients waiting for admission as patients are frequently discharged home, or to other types of care, as well as being admitted to hospital.
	A combination of continued emergency pressures, industrial action and delayed discharges have contributed to the current pressure on services, including length of wait in the accident and emergency department.
	However, the industrial action ended on 22 May 2001, and in regard to delayed discharges, Dudley Health Authority has recently identified £100,000 of non- recurrent funds to alleviate immediate pressures in the short term. The local health and social services agencies are involved in discussions to seek solutions for medium to longer term.

Renal Services

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the provision of renal services at Chorley and South Ribble District General Hospital.

John Hutton: The north-west region has received a capital funding allocation of £1.248 million in 2001–02, to commission 20 new haemodialysis stations and treat at least 80 additional patients. The Lancashire and South Cumbria zone has submitted a proposal to establish a 12-station facility at Chorley and South Ribble District General Hospital; this is one of three bids from across the region and a national decision is expected shortly.

Royal Berkshire and Battle Hospitals

Syd Rapson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds there were in the Royal Berkshire and Battle hospitals in Reading in May 1997; how many there are now; and how many are forecast for June 2004.

Hazel Blears: Bed statistics are collected by National Health Service trusts, not by individual hospital sites. Figures on the average daily number of beds for each NHS trust are published annually in "Bed Availability and Occupancy: England", copies of which are in the Library.
	Forecast figures at trust/health authority level are not collected centrally. The NHS Plan states an increase of 2,100 general and acute beds for England by 2004.

Acute Beds

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many acute beds were available in the NHS in England in (a) May 1997 and (b) June 2001; and how many are forecast for June 2004.

John Hutton: The information requested is not collected centrally in the format requested. We do not have bed availability data for specific dates as the returns are made on a financial year basis.
	The latest released figures are for the year 1999–2000. Figures on the average daily number of available acute beds in England are available in the annual publication "Bed availability and occupancy—England", copies of which are available in the Library.
	The National Health Service Plan states an increase of 2,100 general and acute beds for England by 2004.

NHS Trusts (Discretionary Capital)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what allocation has been made for discretionary capital for each NHS trust in the eastern region in (a) the current financial year and (b) in 1999–2000.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 2 July 2001
	The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Approved capital schemes for trusts in eastern region
		
			   £000  
			 Trust 1999–2000 2001–02 
		
		
			 Addenbrooke's NHS Trust 9,513 1,369 
			 Basildon and Thurrock General Hospitals NHS Trust 462 14,111 
			 Bedford Hospital NHS Trust — 1,860 
			 Bedford and Luton Community NHS Trust — 1,198 
			 Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust 568 — 
			 Lifespan Healthcare NHS Trust 848 — 
			 Local Health Partnerships NHS Trust 400 — 
			 Hinchingbrooke Healthcare NHS Trust — 1,361 
			 James Paget Healthcare NHS Trust — 1,135 
			 New Possibilities NHS Trust 1,620 2,290 
			 Luton and Dunstable Hospital NHS Trust — 1,825 
			 Mid Essex Community and Mental Health NHS Trust — 18 
			 Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust — 1,764 
			 Papworth Hospital NHS Trust — 3,272 
			 Southend Hospital NHS Trust — 900 
			 Southend Community NHS Trust 1,710 — 
			 West Herts Community Health NHS Trust 1,200 — 
			 West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust 567 2,175 
			 West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust — 1,432 
		
	
	Source:
	NHS Executive Eastern Figures

Cottage Hospitals

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the provision of convalescent and respite beds and the maintenance of cottage hospitals; and to what extent his policy is expressed by targets and guidance to health authorities.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 2 July 2001
	Intermediate care is a key part of the Government's programme to promote independence, particularly for older people. The NHS Plan set a target of 5,000 extra intermediate care beds by 2003–04, some of which will be in community hospitals. The Plan also set a target for extending carers' respite services, benefiting a further 75,000 carers, and those they care for, by 2003–04.

National Cardiothoracic Transplant Service

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 26 June 2001, Official Report, column 75W, how much time will be allowed for public consultation following the publication of the Government's proposals for the future of the national cardiothoracic transplant service; and what period of time he estimates will be needed between a final decision on the location of the national transplant units and implementation in April 2002.

John Hutton: People and organisations will be allowed 12 weeks to comment on the document setting out our proposals for the future of the national cardiothoracic transplant service. Once the final decision on the site of the fourth centre has been taken, all reasonable steps will be taken to make the necessary changes to the service by April 2002.

Health Visitors

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to regulate the role of health visitors.

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health to include health visitors on the Nursing and Midwifery Council; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: Health visitors will continue to be regulated as part of the nursing and midwifery professions. The draft legislation establishing the new Nursing and Midwifery Council recognises their special contribution to public health and contains several safeguards for health visiting. Health visitors will have a separate register, protection of their professional title and be guaranteed equal representation on the council with nurses and midwives, and from each United Kingdom country.

Student Nurses

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the review of student nurse methods of support, including bursaries, is expected to be completed and reported.

John Hutton: Officials undertook a review of support arrangements for National Health Service funded students last year. As a result Ministers considered a range of options for change to the existing arrangements, taking full account of representations received from students, their representative bodies and others. The 10.4 per cent. across-the-board increase in the basic rate of bursary, which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health announced shortly after the Budget, was one of the outcomes of the review of student support. It is the biggest increase in bursaries since their introduction in the late 1980s and provides diploma level students (who make up the majority of the student nurse population) with an extra £500 per year.
	Further bursary changes will come into effect in September providing extra help with accommodation and travel expenses for students attending practice placements.
	Ministers continue to take a close interest in the effective operation of student support arrangements.

Care Homes

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his discussions with care providers regarding the proposals contained in "Fit for the Future?".

Jacqui Smith: The "Fit for the Future?" consultation exercise finished on 21 January 2000 and the finalised National Minimum Standards for Care Homes for Older People were published on 2 March this year. These standards were extensively consulted on and my hon. Friend the Minister of State met with providers and their representatives on several occasions to discuss the proposals, in addition to the meetings and correspondence dealt with by officials.
	In setting these standards we listened to the concerns of providers and produced a sensible set of standards that give providers a reasonable time to adapt, and achieved the support of national organisations representing consumers and providers. We made a number of specific changes to the proposed standards in response to the concerns raised in the comments we received. I am confident that these decisions will ensure that any improvements in the quality of care homes necessary will be achieved smoothly, and that stability in the care homes sector and sufficient capacity is maintained while changes are made.

Care Homes

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of care homes that have closed over the last year, by health authority area, and estimate the reduction in care places accordingly.

Jacqui Smith: Around 1,500 residential care homes for adults and 360 private nursing homes, hospitals and clinics in England closed during the period 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000. However, it should be noted that during the same period, there were around 1,900 new registrations of residential care homes and 350 of nursing care homes. Information is not available centrally on the number of care places associated with closures or new registrations. Details of closures or new registrations by local and health authority area are available in the report entitled 'Activity, workload and resources of local authority, health authority and joint inspection units: summary results of a survey in England 1999–2000' which was published on the internet at http://www.doh.gov.uk/public/regandinspect2.htm.

Medical Careers (Women)

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to review the career structures of women in medicine.

John Hutton: We value highly the contribution women make to medicine, and are already committed to providing the necessary support to assist them in combining work with home life. The Improved Working Lives Standard sets a model of supportive and flexible employment practice. National Health Service organisations will be required to achieve accreditation against the Standard by April 2003, demonstrating that they are improving the working lives of staff.

Hospital Hygiene

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures the Government are taking to (a) improve hospital hygiene and (b) reduce hospital-acquired infection.

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in improving hygiene in hospitals; and how many hospitals have been visited by the Commission for Health Improvement in 2001.

Hazel Blears: The NHS Plan set out how we intended to improve standards of cleanliness and hygiene in National Health Service hospitals. A clean hospitals programme was launched in 2000, when £31.9 million was allocated directly to NHS trusts to begin a series of sustainable improvements to hospital cleanliness and the broader patient environment. Patient environment action teams (PEAT) were established to assess NHS trusts against 19 elements which define the patient environment. These elements include entrances and reception areas, visitors' and ward toilets, and cleanliness and decoration throughout the hospital. PEAT teams made two assessment visits. The first was to "spot check" the quality of the patient environment and to assess what needed to be done to raise standards; the second was to evaluate the improvements made and to determine whether the hospital had been successful in bringing standards to a higher level.
	The NHS has made substantial progress since the assessments were completed, and major improvements in levels of cleanliness have been made in a relatively short space of time. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced the results of the clean hospitals programme in a press release on 10 April 2001. The official report has now been published, showing that the percentage of hospitals now showing a good or acceptable standard of cleanliness is over 93 per cent. The tangible improvements that the NHS has achieved in the short-term are the basis for sustainable year-on-year improvements in the future. We will continue to support NHS trusts in raising standards further. A further allocation of £30 million has been provided to allow NHS trusts to build upon the positive outcomes achieved to date, and ensure a clean hospital environment in the future.
	The NHS Plan states that the Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) will monitor and report on standards of cleanliness in hospitals. CHI and NHS Estates are currently discussing how best to monitor progress and ensure that hospitals continue to maintain acceptable standards of cleanliness.
	Trust chief executives are responsible for ensuring that there are high standards of cleanliness and hygiene in hospitals. From April 2001, all NHS trusts are required to comply with the new National Standards of Cleanliness for the NHS. These new standards form part of the Performance Assessment Framework and will ensure that higher standards are achieved and maintained in the future.
	It is a core requirement for NHS organisations to have effective systems in place to prevent and control hospital acquired infection (HAI). Evidence-based multi- professional guidelines for the prevention of HAI, commissioned by the Department, were published in January 2001. Additionally, all hospitals have been required to take part in national surveillance of HAI from April 2001 and data will be published from April 2002.
	The Commission for Health Improvement has visited 34 hospitals between 1 January and 29 June 2001.

PFI Schemes (NHS)

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS Private Finance Initiative schemes have been selected to pilot the management of NHS ancillary staff from the private sector.

John Hutton: Pilot schemes, whereby ancillary services staff could retain their National Health Service employment terms but be managed by the private sector, are being conducted at three private finance initiative projects currently in procurement. These are at Stoke Mandeville Hospital NHS Trust, South West London Community NHS Trust (Queen Mary's Hospital, Roehampton) and Havering Hospitals NHS Trust.

Prozac

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the development of suicidal tendencies in patients taking Prozac; if he will instruct the Medicines Control Agency and the Committee on Safety of Medicines to review this matter; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The Department has not commissioned any recent research into the area of suicidal tendencies with Prozac.
	As with all medicines the safety of Prozac is continually monitored by the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) and the independent expert advisory body, the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM). In June 2001, the CSM considered the available data, including recent research on the issue, and concluded that study data do not support an association between fluoxetine and suicidal behaviour. However, due to the anecdotal reports of suicidal behaviour associated with fluoxetine, the CSM recommended that the issue should be kept under review and doctors and patients should be warned to be vigilant for suicidal thoughts and behaviour in the early stages of treatment. Patient information for Prozac, and that of other medicines in this class has been amended to include wording to this effect.
	This issue is being closely monitored by the MCA and will be further reviewed by the CSM in July 2001.

Elective Procedures

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many elective procedures have been cancelled by each hospital trust in the south-east region since 1 January 2000.

Hazel Blears: The Department does not collect information in the format requested. The Department collects information on the number of elective operations cancelled at the last minute for non-medical reasons, and breaches of the standard to admit patients within one month following such cancellations. Figures are collected on a quarterly basis at health authority level and routinely placed in the Library. The latest figures cover the five quarters up to Quarter 4 (January to March 2001) of the 2000–01 financial year.

Children's Hospices

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the children's hospices in England indicating for each the (a) level of Government money provided for running costs and (b) proportion of each hospice's total annual running costs the Government grant represents.

Yvette Cooper: The information requested is not collected centrally.